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”.