Did you know asbestos was present on Australian Naval vessels?
Many former Naval servicemen and women who served onboard Australian Naval vessels between the 1940s and the 1980’s could have been exposed to asbestos during their Naval service. Some Naval service personnel incurred very significant exposure.
Asbestos insulation materials were used on Naval vessels for their heat retention and fire retardant properties.
Where was asbestos present?
The location of asbestos materials on Naval vessels varied depending on the vessel type, but were commonly present on steam, hot water and exhaust pipes, and in engine and boiler rooms and aircraft hangars.
How did asbestos exposure occur?
Asbestos exposure occurred when Navy servicemen and women worked directly with asbestos materials at sea or in dry dock, or when working around others including Dockyard personnel when vessels were undergoing maintenance and refit. In particular, mechanical engineers and stokers often directly worked with asbestos materials.
Also, Navy servicemen and women at sea onboard Naval vessels could be exposed generally when living, sleeping and eating beneath asbestos materials in vessels as pipes that were insulated with asbestos insulation materials ran throughout mess decks of Naval ships. Exposure to asbestos dust arose from the vibration of asbestos insulated pipes caused by rough seas and gunfire alone – even if not directly working with the asbestos materials.
Associated exposure
Commonwealth civilian employees who worked at Garden Island Dockyard in New South Wales or Williamstown Dockyard in Victoria where Naval vessels underwent maintenance and refit work, often came into contact with asbestos materials.
Asbestos exposure also occurred during the construction of Naval vessels including HMAS vessels and patrol boats at various docks around Australia.
In addition to statutory entitlements such as under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, 1988, there are additional/ alternative options available to ex-servicemen and women who have been diagnosed with an asbestos related condition, including a court claim for damages.
Our specialist Dust Diseases practitioners can provide comprehensive advice about potential entitlements arising from exposure to asbestos in service, or associated with the Commonwealth, in Australia.
