30 more may have been exposed to asbestos on navy ship

It is now being claimed that 30 civilian workers could also have been exposed to potentially lethal asbestos while carrying out routine maintenance on a Naval Service ship.

That’s in addition to another seven naval personnel who also have been exposed to the dust while they were working on the LÉ Ciara at the navy’s headquarters in Haulbowline, Co Cork, last month.

The crisis deepened last night when Siptu said none of its civilian worker members, who are employed by the Department of Defence, had yet received any medical assessment — unlike the Naval Service personnel.

PDFORRA, the representative organisation for the navy’s rank and file members, has said it’s seeking legal advice on what responsibilities the authorities will have into the future to care for personnel who may develop health problems as a result of the asbestos exposure.

The Irish Examiner understands that at least 15 civilian workers were involved directly in the coalface work of breaking up gaskets made of

The removal of the gaskets entailed scraping, blowing, and grinding the material, which may have involved the release of asbestos fibres into the air and the breathing zones of the workers involved.

Eight riggers, two joiners, and five general operatives would have been directly involved. Many other civilian employees were also sporadically onboard during the work and may also be at risk.

None of them were warned of the potential hazards involved in removing the gaskets and were not informed in advance that they contained CAF.

The Naval Service said it was unaware of asbestos onboard any vessel as in 2000 expert consultants were asked to carry out a survey of its entire fleet and found no evidence.

Siptu said it has asked the Department of Defence to provide a medical person with competence in the area of asbestos-related diseases and illnesses to answer a series of questions about the nature of their exposure to the substance while working on the ship.

Siptu organiser Jason Palmer said he has sought clarity from the department as to any potential health issues that may arise for workers and their families.

“We have been promised that a medical screening programme will be put in place. We have also asked whether a risk assessment was carried out before the work commenced.

“In addition, we believe that the Naval Service should provide a medical person with competence in the area of asbestos-related diseases and illnesses to answer a series of questions which we have put to the Navy at Haulbowline in recent days.”

He was also critical of the manner in which the Department of Defence had dealt with the issue to date.