According to recent reports the Australian Navy has been asked to get rid of all spare parts used that contain asbestos, with rising concerns over the number of Navy workers and civilian contractors that are being exposed to the potentially deadly carcinogenic as a result of the use of these banned parts.
The use of asbestos was banned there in 2001, but the report claims that the Navy has been granted various waivers and exemptions by the federal government, which have allowed it to continue using these hazardous parts. However, since Labor took power last year this is all set to change.
The Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has stated that he was shocked when he found out about the various exemptions that had allowed the Navy to continue using these parts and putting thousands of people at risk from exposure. This sort of asbestos exposure can cause various health problems, including a deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma.
Fitzgibbon stated: “I’ve told Defence that we will not stand for it. I’m alarmed by the report.” It is thought that it could cost around one hundred million dollars for the action to be taken. �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
Loading ...
1 user commented in " Australian Navy has to Get Rid of Asbestos Parts "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackSaturday, 7th March 2009 - 9pm
During conription during the Korean conflict I volunteered to Join the Australian Navy in HMAS Australia in about 1953. We were well trained and the ship had been recently undergone an extensive refit and our job was to do a thouough “shakedown” before it was assigned of the coast of Korea. Due to the Korean cease fire the ship never assigned to Korea.
I was part of the Big Guns crew and wore asbestos Hood which covered the head and shoulders with the only parts exposed the eyes-nose and mouth . . . also wore gloves which extended past the elbows . . . both the Hood and gloves were made of asbestos which prevented us from injury from fire and/or flame expelled by the big guns . . .
I was aware that the Navy also used Asbestos as insulation throughout the ship . . .
What I am interested in is in what parts of the ship were then and still are used in Navy ships and with what purpose . . .
Leave A Reply