Navy asbestos exposure of ‘10 days’

The organisation representing rank-and-file members of the Naval Service has confirmed it is seeking legal advice on how the authorities will provide long-term healthcare for seamen following their prolonged exposure to potentially lethal asbestos dust.

PDForra (Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association) last night claimed that seven of its members were exposed to asbestos dust for up to 10 days while working on the LÉ Ciara during routine maintenance in the naval dockyard in Haulbowline, Co Cork, last month.

Initially, it was thought the exposure was limited to two days, but PDForra general secretary Gerry Rooney said they re-evaluated the exposure time and its was now “potentially more serious” and could have been “10 working days over a fortnight”.

Meanwhile, at least 11 civilian workers employed by the Department of Defence are also said to be at risk as they were also working with asbestos on the LÉ Ciara and her sister ship, LÉ Orla. That number could rise significantly as investigations progress.

Yesterday, they met their Siptu representative in Cork where they expressed concern about monitoring their health on an on-going basis.

They, like navy personnel, are also worried for their families because they were not equipped with personal protection suits and might have brought asbestos dust back on clothes into their homes.

The Naval Service claims that expert consultants were employed to scan all the fleet’s ships 14 years ago and gave them a clean bill of health for asbestos. This, they say, was why no protective clothing was provided.

Mr Rooney said all Naval Service personnel exposed have been given “initial medical checks” by doctors, but added his organisation was now insisting on ongoing assessments and seeking legal advice on the responsibility of the Naval Service to provide care into the future, if needed.

He said Naval Service personnel were “cutting and grinding” asbestos before the alarm was raised several days later, leading to both ships being eventually locked down.

The Department of Defence, issued a statement which said that in conjunction with Naval Service management it “is closely monitoring the recent developments concerning the discovery of asbestos on naval ships”.

A department spokes- woman said arrangements are currently being made to offer medical screening to the civilian employees attached to the naval base.

In the meantime, the Naval Service said tenders would soon be sought from experts to safely remove the asbestos from both vessels.