Citation

Scanlon TJ. Int. J. Mass Emerg. Disasters 1996; 14(2): 175-194.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, International Sociological Association, International Research Committee on Disasters)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although the London Underground has had various types of emergencies since it was constructed more than 125 years ago, it had dealt with them piecemeal. Despite the fact that it transports 2.2 million persons per day, a number which is rising steadily, the Underground act as if major incidents -- especially accidents or fires -- were the result of human error or were simply unavoidable. After it was severely criticized when 31 persons died at a fire at King's Cross, however, the Underground put together a comprehensive system of emergency management. It includes an internal Emergency Response Unit, staff training, and public information. This unit has won acceptance internally and has improved Underground's status with outside emergency agencies. Despite the success in changing its internal emergency culture, Underground's managers are still considering all aspects of risk when they make decisions such as the one to buy rather than make power.