LAWYERS from legal firm Herbert Greer say existing Comcare schemes have failed to provide fair compensation to workers who fixed leaking fuel tanks on the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-111 strike bombers.
Up to 2000 Brisbane-based former servicemen had worked on the deseal-reseal program at the Amberley RAAF base from 1973 until 2000. Some worked for two decades in the hazardous environment without being provided with protective clothing and equipment.
According to the law firm, workers suffered from many health problems because they were exposed to the chemical SR51. Symptoms vary between workers, from skin conditions, to depression and erectile dysfunction.
Many workers’ families were also affected, when chemical-soaked work clothes were laundered with other clothes.
Other health problems such as cancer did not manifest themselves until the statutory three year timeframe for complaint had expired, and many victims are already dead.
A submission to be presented to a parliamentary inquiry will call for another way of providing compensation to the sick workers.
The lawyers, representing 25 claimants, are calling for an informal mediation process in 2009.
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