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Employee Relations

GMB launches workplace exposure register amid concerns over aviation worker health risks

GMB has launched a workplace exposure register for fumes and dust as the union calls for greater action to protect aviation workers from occupational health risks.

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A ground crew aviation worker in high-visibility safety gear working on a busy airport tarmac, surrounded by aircraft and ground support vehicles emitting visible exhaust fumes, with a hazy atmospheric quality suggesting air pollution and chemical exposure. The worker appears fatigued under harsh sunlight, conveying the physical toll of prolonged outdoor labor. The scene is shot from a mid-distance angle in a gritty, documentary-style photorealistic aesthetic, with moody overcast lighting and a desaturated color palette emphasizing industrial hazard and worker vulnerability. No text or logos visible.
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GMB has launched a Workplace Exposure Register for Fumes and Dust and called for stronger protections for aviation workers who may be exposed to potentially harmful substances during their daily duties.

The announcement was made during the union’s annual congress, where delegates highlighted concerns about exposure to aircraft fuel fumes, diesel particulates and ultraviolet radiation. GMB said it intends to work more closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and employers to improve worker protections across the sector.

The new register has been established through the union’s legal services provider, UnionLine, and is designed to record and investigate workplace exposure to chemicals, fumes and dust. The union said the initiative could also support legal action against employers where appropriate.

According to figures cited by GMB from the HSE, around 13,000 deaths each year are linked to workplace exposure, primarily involving chemicals and dust.

A former aviation worker who left the industry due to ill health said: “During my time as a member of ground staff, I was exposed to aircraft and vehicle fumes for up to six hours at a time.

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“You could smell it all around you.

“Dehydration was also a major risk as employers didn’t supply us with drinks and you couldn’t get to water points during a shift.

“We had people collapse with dehydration.

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“The job aviation workers do is a detriment to our health, but there is no recognition of this fact.”

Mike Reynolds, aviation worker and GMB delegate, told congress: “As holidaymakers arrive to airports and board their flights this summer, aviation workers nationwide will be working hard to ensure they reach their destinations safely and comfortably.

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“However, the work we at Britain’s airports poses a risk to our health and wellbeing on a daily basis.

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“Working outside for six hours or more impacts exposure to UV radiation, while aviation fumes and the emission of diesel particles from vehicles add up to a cocktail of chemicals and carcinogens.

“Better monitoring of air-quality levels, stronger PPE controls, and employer assessment of cumulative UV and emissions exposure could all play a role in keeping aviation workers safe.”

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