Lewisham instructed the contractor that the high pressure jetting operation must not continue whilst there was no containment measures in place and public could walk through the airborne pollution and the debris.
The subway was reportedly closed at 9:30 and it was planned to be re-opened today at 15:30 in mitigation of the absence of proper measures. I suspect in fact it was not closed and no work was carried out.
This is inexplicable.
Can it be the case that the contractor has found further deficiencies in their proposed method of work - starting with the fact that their operatives had no effective PPE or breathing kit ?
Only LB Lewisham and HSE can determine if the earlier actions are deemed to be reportable incidents under RIDDOR.
From a common sense perspective and given the nature of the cladding design - why was the paint stripping work deemed necessary - fixings could be made to the existing structure of the subway with the paint left undisturbed.
Most reasonable people would conclude that they would not choose to expose their children or their elderly relatives to any form of contaminants never mind the potentially toxic mix of high pressure mist mixed with any number harmful materials in particle form. I know I have recommended to a number of people not to pass through the subway especially with children if jetting is under way and there is no containment measures in place.
As I said earlier, of course progress is welcome. Without apology it must be done safely and without harming anyone - and certainly not with the cavalier approach that has emerged in the last 3 days or so.