Tag: chemicals
Mr V and The Defence Forces (FOI Act 2014)
Mr V and The Defence Forces (FOI Act 2014)
Case Number: 160138
Whether the Defence Forces was justified in refusing access to further records relating to the applicant’s request for risk assessments pertaining to the use of three specified chemical products, on the ground that no further records exist or can be found
Conducted in accordance with section 22(2) of the FOI Act by Stephen Rafferty, Senior Investigator, who is authorised by the Information Commissioner to conduct this review.
Explainer : Under Health & Safety legislation Irish Army Air Corps must be in possession of risk assessments for all chemicals in use in the workplace. At the time of the FoI request in November 2015 this had NEVER been carried out even though it had been mandatory since 1989.
Added new information to the ACCAS “Chemical Info” page
Added some more chemicals to the chemical list including the following sealants & primers. These were used a lot by sheet metal workers and are very toxic. Have also added some constituent chemicals from the SDS list , some are unpronounceable.
Added manufacturer SDS
- Ardrox 667
- Ardrox 670
- Chesterton 338 Rust Remover
- Metaflex FCR Primer
- PR-1422a Fuel Tank Sealant
- PR-1829b Windshield Canopy Sealant
- PS-870b Corrosion Inhibitive Sealant
- PS 890 Fuel Tank Sealant
Added constituent chemicals
- 1,3-Diphenylguanidine
- 2-Butoxyethanol
- [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propyl] trimethoxysilane
- Ammonium Hydroxide
- Calcium Dichromate
- Carbon Black
- Dichloromethane
- Epichlorohydrin
- Ferbam
- N,N-dimethylacetamide
- Magnesium Chromate
- Manganese Dioxide
- Polysorbate 80
- Potassium Chromate
- Potassium Dichromate
- Silicon Dioxide
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Terphenyl
PDFORRA waiting for reply on Irish Army Air Corps toxins exposure fears
The organisation representing members of the Defence Forces is still waiting for a reply after raising concerns about the exposure of members of the Air Corps to cancer- causing toxins.
PDFORRA wrote to both the Defence Forces and Department of Defence six months ago — prior to the publication of a damning Health and Safety Authority report on working conditions in Baldonnel — the details of which were revealed in an Irish Examiner investigation.
Ger Guinan, deputy general secretary of PDFORRA, said he became “acutely aware” of chemical exposure concerns having met with Dutch counterparts at a European Organisation of Military Associations (Euromil) conference last year.
Read more on Irish Examiner Website
Safety body had to threaten Irish Army Air Corps before safety measures implemented
The Irish Army Air Corps had to be threatened with prosecution before it implemented safety procedures on the handling of dangerous chemicals and solvents, four years after the issue was first highlighted, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has claimed.
Read more on the Irish Times website
Irish Army Air Corps chemical safety failings have Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. under pressure at Leader’s Questions
Alternative Facts – Minister Kehoe’s “Independent 3rd Party”
On the 25th of January 2017 Minister Paul Kehoe TD the Junior Minister with responsibility for Defence made a statement in Dáil Éireann that he had appointed an “independent 3rd party” to investigate the Air Corps whistle-blower claims.
This “independent 3rd party” a Mr. Christopher O’Toole hails from the same Attorney Generals office that some of the whistle-blowers are taking legal action against.
Minister on defensive in Irish Army Air Corps questioning
After a series of revelations in this newspaper, the defence minister addressed the Dáil on air corps health concerns. But he told us what we already knew, writes Joe Leogue.
The Dáil discussion on the health and safety management of dangerous chemicals in the air corps confirmed what we already knew, while leaving a number of questions unanswered.
Read more on the Irish Examiner website
More Irish Army Air Corps compensation claims in the pipeline
The State is facing further claims that Air Corps staff may have suffered illnesses as a result of exposure to harmful chemicals at Casement Aerodrome.
The solicitor representing six people currently taking legal action over their exposure to toxic chemicals confirmed he has received instruction from up to six more workers who are considering submitting personal injury claims.
Read more on the Irish Examiner website