Navy staff exposed to asbestos fear for families

Civilian staff exposed to potentially dangerous levels of asbestos told a senior navy officer during a heated meeting that their families may also be at risk of lung damage.

At the meeting, held last Tuesday, 11 civilian workers employed by the Department of Defence told the officer that, as they were not wearing protective clothing they could have brought dust particles back to their homes and thus also put their families at risk.

The exposure lasted up to two days as the men carried out routine maintenance on the LE Ciara. One of the men said it appeared the senior officer didn’t have the answers to any potential impact on their health and that of their loved ones. They also asked that they be given X-rays and ongoing screening.