Report published into deaths of London bus drivers during pandemic
Transport for London has responded to the publication of an independent review by UCL’s Institute of Health Equity into the deaths of bus drivers during the pandemic.
TfL asked academics at the Institute of Health Equity to explore the pattern of infection with, and deaths from, coronavirus in the London bus worker population to inform recommendations on any additional occupational health measures that should be put in place to protect them.
The report finds that many of the London bus drivers who died from coronavirus were suffering with underlying health conditions, particularly high blood pressure. Among the bus drivers who died, most stopped work in the 10 days either side of lockdown on 23 March. The report also finds that after lockdown, death rates came down.
“It’s clear that frontline workers across the country have disproportionately suffered from coronavirus, which is why we worked closely with all London bus operators to introduce measures to help keep the capital’s drivers safe,” says Lilli Matson, TfL chief safety, health and environment officer.