Asbestos in defence equipment platforms buildings and infrastructure
Update on Ministry of Defence (MOD) management of asbestos in defence equipment platforms, buildings and infrastructure.
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The widespread historic use of asbestos, in buildings, infrastructure and equipment, and its continued management is a wide-ranging and continuously evolving issue, which is not confined to defence.
The MOD is acutely aware of the ongoing interest in asbestos in defence, particularly following reports about Sea King helicopters and the Ashchurch vehicle depot.
The health and safety of our personnel is of upmost importance and we are committed to providing a safe working environment including the continued replacement and elimination of asbestos items wherever practicable. We are also determined to ensure that people have the right information about potential risks to exposure, allowing those risks to be properly managed.
As such, this page will provide further information as this becomes available.
Asbestos use in defence equipment
The MOD has been engaged in work to review the management of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) in defence equipment. This is a complex and evolving issue, especially in light of the range and age of some of the equipment types involved, some of which are now out of service. This work continues, but a list of defence equipment with known ACM items is in the table below. People that have operated or maintained these equipment types may find the following information useful in considering their possible risk of personal exposure.
Historically, and prior to legislation prohibiting and restricting their use, ACM was widely used in building and infrastructure and some engineering applications, including on defence equipment. Typically, this was where resistance to heat or an insulating property was required such as in seals and gaskets within engine and heating systems.
Progressive legislation has restricted and prohibited the use of asbestos in new equipment, but the continued use of existing products and equipment containing asbestos was not prohibited provided the risks of exposure were properly managed.
Following legislation in 1999 on the use of white (chrysotile) asbestos, the MOD has taken steps to reduce and eliminate where practicable the use of ACM in defence equipment. In line with guidance from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the safest option is usually to leave asbestos in situ and undisturbed as long as it is possible to do so. The replacement of ACM in defence equipment has therefore mainly been undertaken as and when specific components have required replacement. The MOD remains committed to reducing the use of ACM across defence equipment, but some ACM components need to remain in use on specific platforms to maintain operational capability.
The majority of asbestos materials in defence equipment are bonded with other materials and embedded within equipment and systems that would not routinely be disturbed outside of a maintenance facility.
The presence of ACMs should, however, be correctly recorded and managed, ensuring that operators and maintainers of equipment are aware of potential risks to health, and that suitable handling precautions are taken during activities where ACM items may be accessed or disturbed.
Through the work that has been undertaken to review the management of ACM it has become clear that these items have not always been correctly recorded and managed across a range of defence equipment. This presents a potential risk to some people of unintended exposure to asbestos fibres. The risk of ill health following any exposure to asbestos is dependent on the degree of exposure. HSE guidance notes that many cases of short-term exposure to asbestos will most likely to have led to minimal exposure to fibres, with little likelihood of any long-term ill health effects. In general terms, the more asbestos fibres that may have been released and the greater the cumulative exposure, the greater the potential risk of ill health effects. For these and other reasons, it is not possible to determine the risk to individuals but because most people will not have been in direct proximity to asbestos, it is highly unlikely they will have been exposed at all.
Work continues to identify and record ACM and ensure that the relevant technical and safety information is made available to people as soon as possible. However, this will take some time to complete and it is not possible at this stage to provide detailed information about ACMs on all of the equipment types listed in the table below. Further platform specific information will be issued as it becomes available.
Asbestos in buildings and infrastructure
The presence of ACM in defence premises, and in other industrial and commercial properties, is well known.
The initial prohibition of the supply and use of asbestos first came into effect in 1985. Most of the asbestos containing construction products in use on the MOD estate date back before this period and would have already exceeded their intended lifespan. Defence has a duty to manage and protect people from the risk of asbestos and conforms to the requirements of the UK’s Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and associated HSE Approved Code of Practice (ACOP).
The HSE ACOP states “if the material is in good condition, well protected either by its position or physical protection, reducing the likelihood of damage, and is unlikely to be worked on regularly or otherwise disturbed, it is usually safer to leave it in place and managed”.
In general, asbestos in MOD infrastructure is bonded with other materials and / or embedded within the fabric of buildings, and as such there is a reliance on controls measures to manage these materials to prevent them from being disturbed.
Where asbestos is known it is recorded on asbestos registers and labelled accordingly where required.
However, despite numerous surveys of the estate, previously unknown asbestos containing materials may still be encountered or asbestos may have degraded which could potentially present a risk of unintended exposure.
There may also still be unidentified asbestos in some infrastructure assets and where this is the case there is a presumption that it is present so it can be managed accordingly.
Further improvements are being made to the way MOD manages asbestos in infrastructure and these are outlined in the DIO Enduring Asbestos Strategy.
Asbestos use and health risks
The presence of asbestos does not in itself create a health risk; the risk arises from the inhalation of fibres if components are disturbed, such as through maintenance activities.
Asbestos is fire resistant and was widely used in the 20th century as an insulating material and notably in building construction.
Asbestos exposure can relate to occupation, but there are many other sources in the environment external to defence.
Contact with asbestos does not produce acute symptoms. Over time, typically many years, a variety of conditions may develop, dependent on the type of asbestos, and the level and duration of exposure.
Information about medical conditions related to asbestos exposure can be found on the NHS website. Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.
Further general information on asbestos health and safety is available on the HSE website.
Reporting
This information has been made available as a general notification to alert people to the potential risk from unintended exposure to asbestos fibres from buildings, infrastructure and in defence equipment. It is intended to allow people to consider their possible risk of exposure and take any necessary action to register this in line with the following reporting arrangements.
If you are a veteran or former civilian employee and you consider that you may have been exposed to asbestos you may wish to complete and return a MOD Form 960 Asbestos Personnel Record Annotation. This form is self-certifying.
You should retain one copy, you may wish to pass one copy to your general practitioner, and one copy should be returned to the MOD to be placed on your personal file. The completed form should be returned to:
Post:
Defence Business Services Secretariat
R6229 Tomlinson House,
Norcross Lane,
Thornton Cleveleys,
Lancashire,
FY5 3WP
Email: dbsres-secretariat@mod.gov.uk
Serving members of our armed forces and current civil servants who are concerned about possible exposure should follow the instructions in the Defence Instruction and Notices (DINs) DIN06-029, DIN06-028, DIN06-027, complete a MOD Form 960 Asbestos Personnel Record Annotation and pass the form to the local service medical officer (service personnel) or to DBS at the address above (civilian personnel).
Completion of MOD Form 960 does not mean that an exposure to asbestos has taken place; it simply records where potential exposure may have taken place.
Compensation arrangements
The War Disablement Pension and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme both make provision for any illness or injury caused by service in HM Armed Forces. Awards are not made for exposure, but for an injury or disorder including asbestos related conditions.
Further details on how to make a claim under the War Pensions Scheme, and regarding the conditions and applicable dates, are available via the Veterans UK War Pensions page. Welfare support for veterans, including home visits where needed, is also available from the MOD’s Veterans Welfare Service.
The Civil Service Injury Benefit Scheme (CSIBS) provides compensation to civil servants who suffer a qualifying injury while on duty that reduces their earnings capacity. The CSIBS covers all civil servants, including employees who are not part of the Civil Service Pension arrangements.
Should you wish to pursue a common law claim for damages, regardless of whether you are serving, or former service personnel, civil servant, civilian contractor or other person not employed by the department, you may wish to seek legal advice on the merits of such a claim.
Contact
If you have any particular questions or concerns about this issue you should contact:
For MOD Form 960 enquiries:
Ex-service personnel:
- Veterans Helpline: 0808 1914218 (within UK)
- Veterans Helpline: 01253 866043 (from overseas)
- email: dbsres-secretariat@mod.gov.uk
Ex and current MOD civilian personnel:
General equipment enquiries
Defence buildings and infrastructure enquiries
Ashchurch vehicle depot
Last updated 18 January 2024 + show all updates
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Postal Address moved to Norcross from Abbey Wood
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Added DIO Enduring Strategy for the Management of Asbestos in Infrastructure 2020-2030 and updated content under 'Asbestos in Buildings and Infrastructure’ heading.
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First published.