Asbestos warning for Sea King helicopter engineers

[CharlieOneSix]

The MOD is urgently removing parts containing asbestos from Sea King helicopters. It's only taken 49 years to realise the danger!! Granted that asbestos wasn't banned in the building industry until 1999 but even so, they have had 20 years to realise the problem since then.

BBC News: Sea King asbestos warning

[FD2]

This is almost unbelievable isn't it? After all the years of the Health and Safety culture they decide that the asbestos is a problem. Any idea if it's white or the more dangerous sort C16 or what parts it's in?

[CharlieOneSix]

No, I don’t know any more than what is in that article. I think back to the mid 60’s and my upper bunk in a four berth cabin (2X36) on Ark. There were asbestos clad pipes about three feet above the bunk but as they were painted and remained undisturbed I don’t suppose there’s an issue. No doubt cabins on Antrim were similar?

EDIT: Ha! Just popped over to TOP to see if they were saying anything there about this. The first post is about a relative in the RAN who died of asbestosis from lagged pipes above his bunk....

[FD2]

I served in 6 or 7 ships where I had a cabin and all of them had air, steam or water trunking all over the place. I’m sure it’s changed now and safe as houses...