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REPORTS DETAILING THE levels of toxicity in the air at Baldonnel Airfield have disappeared, TheJournal.ie can reveal.
A letter seen by this publication, which was sent to a TD, says two reports into the measurement of potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and other airborne toxins cannot be located by the Defence Forces.
The letter from Paul Kehoe, Minister of State with responsibility for Defence, reads:
“I have now been advised by the military that there was a report on measuring CO fumes from aircraft compiled by Forbairt [which later became Enterprise Ireland] in 1995 and a further report on monitoring air contaminants in workshops in 1997 which was also compiled by Forbairt.
“In addition, an internal report was compiled by the Air Corps in 2014 in relation to a litigation case and in 2017, an occupational air survey was carried out by an independent environmental services company.
Unfortunately, following an extensive search and their having consulted with Enterprise Ireland (which superseded Forbairt), I am advised by the military authorities that it has not been possible to locate the earlier Forbairt reports.
The revelation has been met with frustration and outrage by a number of whistleblowers who say that these reports hold vital information in relation to their cases.
Six men are suing the Air Corps as they allege they became sick from being exposed to chemicals at Baldonnel.
One told TheJournal.ie: “We’re not exactly surprised by this. We are being met at every turn. There are people who don’t want certain things to see the light of day. How can important files like this just go missing? Surely, there’s someone who has to be culpable.
“There are too many people who are affected by this. We think they were exposed to dangerous chemicals. This is bigger than the six of us. There are hundreds of people, if not thousands this may be affecting.
To tell us the files which can prove what we have been saying now are nowhere to be found. It’s all a bit convenient.
Earlier this week, we reported that two of the six men who are taking cases against the Air Corps have developed cancer since starting the litigation.
A new protected disclosure, also reported by this publication last week, alleged that a number of children of Air Corps staff have died as a result of being exposed to toxic chemicals.
A 2016 inspection by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) identified a number of shortcomings at Baldonnel with corrective actions then taken by the Defence Forces in relation to how it handles such chemicals.
According to the HSA report seen by TheJournal.ie, the Air Corps was warned it could face prosecution if it did not “comply with advice and relevant legal requirements” about how hazardous substances were managed, among other safety matters.
At least six former members launched legal proceedings against the State for negligence and Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe has ordered an independent review of what happened at Baldonnel.
There has also been a separate controversy surrounding the appointment of Christopher O’Toole as the independent assessor of the claims.
We revealed last month how the claimants have been left frustrated after finding out that O’Toole is a former senior official at the Office of the Attorney General, one of the bodies which they are taking the case against.
A statement from the Department of Defence read: “The State Claims Agency is currently managing six claims taken by former and current members of the Air Corps against the Minister for Defence for personal injuries alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substances whilst working in the Air Corps in Baldonnel in the period 1991 to 2006. Given these matters are subject to litigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
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I just give up. The length of this State’s existence should be measured in scandals, not the Gregorian Calendar. It is never ending.
How careless and convenient.
What will it take for FF to bring FG down?
They don’t realise that FG new leader could be popular enough ( I don’t understand how with both ministers records of record homeless & hospital lists)to gain a few more seats leaving FF second fiddle again. Unless FF get a decent increase in min wage & social welfare than last year’s insulting pittance in the budget there be no gains for them whilst God forbid FG could be around for a second “supply & confidence” deal
@abcyz: You argue about these parties as if there is a difference between them. There isn’t, their granddads were on opposite sides of a civil war and that’s about it. Both are centre-right and both are beholden to corporate stoogery.
I wish we had a genuine alternative in this country, but we don’t. As a centrist I’d be happy to skew left if it meant a change a paradigm but, as an example, the AAA lunatics advise me we need a revolution, not an election. How can you argue with that nonsense, or remotely support it? Travesty all round.
@John Considine: Who will be properly fairer? Who will build social housing? Will will increase the recover as much as poss the slashed social welfare to the disabled? Who will give more than 10c increase to the min wage? These are the ordinary citizens concerns but Apples etc seems more important. Why??????
Is the retention of documents not normally 7 years? These reports are 20 and 22 years old. I’m not really surprised they’re gone at this stage, how long can you expect to keep a report?
@Y U no spell good?: No it’s not. A report is meant to be kept for ever. The 7 years you mention refers to the length of time raw research data such as completed questionnaires are usually retained by universities. Reports written on the basis of such data should never go missing or be destroyed. So, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe Leo’s first act as taoiseach will be to educate yfg bots.
@Anne Marie Devlin: Well all accounting and compliancy documents are only held for 7 years also so it’s an understandable question.
@Cian O Donoghue: I agree and many have the view that as soon as a document expires it is removed permanently
@Anne Marie Devlin: thanks for your wonderful help Anne Marie, you seem like a great person. I think my asking a question was an indication that I didn’t know the details and didn’t require you pointing it out as nicely as you did
So many people think they are out of range with the possible of having government corruption or poverty ( due to the way banks treat people) inflicted on them, needs to think again! Im sure the rescue helicopter crew flight 116 never though their lives would be lost due to ducking cut backs, something both of these guy’s will continue!
@collette Kearns,no point using rescue 116 to try and further your point.Cutbacks didn’t cause that tragedy.
@Teddy: was the cover that 116 was providing not supposed to be an air corp fixed wing role? Would have been a casa only that such flights had to be cutback?
Aircorps only have an inter service agreement to provide cover when they can. They are not required to provide cover. on the night in question, they couldn’t, so CG did what they’ve always done when the AC didn’t have anything available, they provided top cover to themselves with a second heli. In reality, the CG should be properly funded and have is own fixed wing aircraft. The AC are supposed to be military and surveillance assets, not rescue.
If the reports had positive results for the air corps I bet they wouldn’t be lost
@Liam Burke: Reports were ordered shredded by Air Corps Health & Safety when an NDT technician turned yellow.
The issue here is a systematic failure by the military authorities to address the Health and Safety issues affecting Aer Corps technicians over many years. Now, quite typically the authorities are moving to protect the system at all costs. Similar incidents of the destruction or loss of documents regarding for instance medical negligence cases are common place once legal action is initiated. The time limit for the retention of documents for 5-7 yrs applies to many types of documents, however it is not uncommon for such unique reports as the air quality report to be held indefinitely as a reference document or as part of an ongoing safety file. This country needs to lose its adversarial approach to this issues where in effect the state has damaged its employees health in breach of SHAWAWA.
@Robbie Masterson: @Robbie Masterson: There was a further serious failure by the Military Medical Corps who didn’t spot that 3 serving personnel in the same very small Avionics / ERF building suffered Hodgkins & Non Hodgkins Lymphoma at the same time with 2 deaths. Also 2 heart attacks of 2 men in their 20s from the same Apprentice class in the same small building as the Hodgkins issue with 1 death. Also a death from a brain tumour and Crohns of men in their 30s in same small building.
This all within 5 years of a report commissioned by a still serving and now Lt. Col that discovered Dichloromethane in the same building at 175ppm when legal limit is 50ppm.
The missing Carbon Monoxide report is also significant as Dichloromethane turns to CO in the bloodstream but can cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning if high ambient CO is also present. Dichloromethane was also used in hangars as a paint stripper, was banned in 2012 but Air Corps still had some in 2016. With jet blast exhausting towards same hangars it was a recipe for serious illness.
This is the part of the building that killed people l. Note photos was taken in 2007
http://www.accas.info/?page_id=142
Green area is where the building was located, note its size compated to cars parked in the vicinity. http://www.loc8code.com/NS4-04-YP7 Viewing the same location in Google Earth history will allow you to see the actual before it was demolished in 2008 The building is also about 8m downwind from the 3m high exhaust stack of the spray painting facility which sent Isocyanate fumes in the doors and windows of Avionics / ERF.
Building was demolished when former personnel started to request their medical files.
Paddywhackery explained through greasy lips
How convenient. I find it very hard to believe that there are absolutely no copies of this report in existence! Someone is attempting to cover arse here! It stinks!
@Edmond Mc Grath: CLARIFICATION The Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Irish Army Air Corps are saying they cannot locate THEIR copies of the documents.
Previously they denied even the existence of the documents.
I hate this state for what they have done to people over the years. But this is not something that can be blamed on the state. Their is thousands of airmen and women working in far worse conditions around the world and there fine. This is just a way for a small group of people to blame someone for what is actually happening every day in jobs all over the world. There’s 3 girls in the past 4 years in an office I worked in that had cancer. It’s just life.
@Rockhopper617: Research before you mouth off. 1989 Health & Safety legislation was ignored by Air Corps and won’t be fully implemented until December 2017. Multiple reports commissioned by Air Corps showed air quality exceeded legal limits but were ignored. Staff were not given any training in chemical handling nor given or trained in PPE. 20 adults dead, 5 children dead and an autism cluster as a result and approximately 60 with life changing illness. http://www.accas.info
@Chemical Brothers: Regardless of what you decide to do in life you ca
@Rockhopper617: can’t blame others for what happens naturally in life.
@Chemical Brothers:
The 1989 SHWAA was repealed by 2005 act and is no longer applicable. Chemical agent regulations 2015 (most recent version) allow a 2 year introductory period for the changing of packaging and labelling to GHS standard, so aren’t enforceable until next month. As for your reference to “autism clusters”, unless you have discovered a “cause” of autism, something which has eluded many great scientific minds for decades you have zero proof for your “autism cluster” claim.
I have no doubt that Are Corps personnel were exposed to levels far in excess of OEL’ s permitted and that those exposed were subject to Ill health as a result. However if you’re going to have a pop at someone for not doing their research you should reference the correct legislation and regulations. Also if you’re making claims of ill health you should refer to the percentage of those illnesses in the broader population (e.g. 25-30% ratio of cancer in the general population and increasing) and avoid using terms like “autism clusters” .
Reports say the toxicitie is flowing from the govt jet, any reporter commenters any clue as. To
What it my be??
Apologies for stating the obvious and i feel a great sense of anger for the people concerned. But surely copies of said reports should have been help by the people reporting this very serious issue.
@Eddie Byrne: Reports were commissioned by Engineering and Health & Safety officers. Results were not shared with enlisted personnel working with the chemicals and were ordered destroyed by same officers.
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