A MAN WHO is taking the State to court over his time in the Air Corps believes 72 of his colleagues died prematurely, linking their deaths to alleged chemical exposure at work.
The recent death of a former airman has brought the alleged death toll to 72, according to the whistle-blower.
He also alleges that:
- 72 verified deaths have occurred in total since 1980
- 59 of these deaths have occurred since 2000
- 36 of these deaths have occurred since 2010
The whistle-blower is claiming that the State neglected health and safety rules and exposed himself and his fellow workers to seriously harmful levels of toxic chemicals. This continues to be strongly contested by the State.
The whistle-blowers in this case alleges there was a disregard for the safety of young Air Corps members. According to an online resource created for those who believe they were affected by the chemical exposure, there was:
- No meaningful chemical risk assessments.
- No risk specific health surveillance
- No Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issued
- No chemical health and safety training whatsoever
- No reporting of health and safety incidents
- No follow up of unusual illnesses by medical personnel
- Ignoring dangerous air quality reports
- Personnel doused in toxic chemicals as pranks (hazing) incidents
- Highly toxic chemicals disposed of onsite in an unsafe manner
Read full article on The Journal website below…
The ACCAS lads were exposed to Dichloromethane (formula CH2Cl2 CAS number 75-09-2). This is a solvent, but is also apparently used as an “inhalable anaesthetic” – SO, as well as causing longterm illness such as ME/GWS/MCS etc. in those exposed to it; it could also cause physical accidents such as falls, cuts from machinery & equipment, vehicle crashes etc. because of feeling ‘groggy’ after breathing in the fumes.
DCM can harm in many different ways. One of the simpler ways it harms is that it metabolises as carbon monoxide when inhaled. This CO added to engine exhaust CO means that personnel in ARF/ERF & BFTS were getting high CO exposures daily. A study was carried out into carbon monoxide levels but has gone missing.