Passenger Safety at Belfast International Airport

The request was successful.

Dear Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland,
Please advise whether HSENI has any responsibility for approving or monitoring the procedures governing passenger safety on the ‘airside’ of Belfast International Airport.
I am looking specifically for rules or guidance regarding passenger 'dwell time' in stairwells, having on more than one occasion been required to queue for over half an hour in an overcrowded stairwell after passing through the departure gate.
This is a serious safety issue – one person slipping, fainting or falling could easily create a ‘domino’ effect. I wish to know what regulations or advice covers such queuing in each of the above three airports.
I understand from the CAA that you are the body responsible for monitoring and enforcing any such standards. If this is not the case, please advise which body is.

Yours faithfully,

N.Siddle

DfE HSENI FOI, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

Dear N Siddle

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Reference: FOI/1/2019

I refer to your email dated 3 January 2019 to Health and Safety Executive
for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

I acknowledge receipt of your request. HSENI is currently working on this
and will be in touch with you once our response is complete.

If you have any queries regarding this email or your request please
contact HSENI by email to [[HSENI request email]] and remember to quote our
reference, FOI/1/2019, on any future correspondence.

Yours sincerely,

HSENI
Information Management Unit

O'Neill, Liam, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

 

Dear Sir / Madam,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 (FOIA)

 

I refer to your request for information under the above Act. I should
advise you that your request falls outside the scope of the FOIA; it is
therefore being responded to as a line of business request.

 

You asked us ‘Please advise whether HSENI has any responsibility for
approving or monitoring the procedures governing passenger safety on the
‘airside’ of Belfast International Airport.

I am looking specifically for rules or guidance regarding passenger 'dwell
time' in stairwells, having on more than one occasion been required to
queue for over half an hour in an overcrowded stairwell after passing
through the departure gate.

This is a serious safety issue – one person slipping, fainting or falling
could easily create a ‘domino’ effect. I wish to know what regulations or
advice covers such queuing in each of the above three airports.

I understand from the CAA that you are the body responsible for monitoring
and enforcing any such standards. If this is not the case, please advise
which body is.’

 

 

Responsibility for ensuring that passengers are safeguarded between the
aircraft and the terminal building is shared between the airline,
aerodrome operator and any ground handlers involved. The aerodrome
operator, the airline operator and ground handlers all have responsibility
for ensuring that the movement of passengers is supervised and controlled.
There is no specific guidance on dwell time and in most circumstances this
is more of a passenger comfort and well-being issue, rather than safety.

 

In respect of airports and the relevant H&S Enforcing Authority, HSE are
responsible for the following at airports:

 

The common parts of land within the perimeter of an airport (except
airport car parks), which are not within a building or to which passengers
are admitted but other members of the public are not admitted
(reg.3(4)(b)), i.e. ‘air-side’ to which only passengers and airport
employees have access.
The common parts of land within the perimeter of an airport (except
airport car parks), which are not within a building or to which passengers
are admitted but other members of the public are not admitted
(reg.3(4)(b)), i.e. ‘air-side’ to which only passengers, airport employees
and contractors have access. Full details of regulatory responsibilities
for enforcing occupational health and safety can be found in the HSE and
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) [1]Memorandum of Understanding^[2].

 

The local authority is responsible for the following at airports:

 

Separately occupied premises and common parts within a building to which
members of the public have access.
Airport car parking facilities.

 

In relation to associated guidance on airport safety, HSE have produced
the following:

 

[2]http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg20...

 

I trust you find this information useful however if you are dissatisfied
with the way in which HSENI has handled your request, please go to the
HSENI website at the following link which explains the actions that are
available to you:

 

·         [3]http://www.hseni.gov.uk/about-hseni/cont...  

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Liam O'Neill

Information Manager

HSENI
83 Ladas Drive
Belfast, BT6 9FR
Tel: 028 9054 7088 (ext: 47088)
[mobile number]
Textphone: 028 9052 9304
Web: [4]www.hseni.gov.uk

Please consider the environment - do you really need to print this e-mail?

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.hse.gov.uk/airtransport/hse-a...
2. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg20...
3. http://www.hseni.gov.uk/about-hseni/cont...
4. http://www.hseni.gov.uk/

N.Siddle left an annotation ()

As suspected, no-one is taking responsibility for issuing guidelines on what could be a safety critical matter. Basically it is down to Airlines, Airport owners and handling agents, all of which are private companies and thereforeunder no obligation to respond to FOI requests. The document that HSENI have sent is aimed at these companies and their obligations to their employees - the travelling public are only mentioned tangentially.
All will be OK until someone actually dies ini one of these stairwells.............