There are few things sadder than a person being taken in the prime of their life by a rare form of aggressive cancer, leaving a widow and two young children behind. Perhaps one of them is the fact the cancer is believed to have been caused by that person’s exposure to toxic chemicals and asbestos fibres in the course of their duty.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The admission in an official report for the Defence Department that exposure to a toxic mix of chemicals and asbestos was in all likelihood the trigger for the cancer that took the life of Petty Officer Greg Lukes in May 2014 needs to be broadcast widely.
This has to happen so that colleagues of PO Lukes who may have been similarly exposed know they should have regular check-ups. It would be tragedy heaped on tragedy if others who worked on the Sea King helicopters and were exposed to carcinogens did not know the risks and missed early detection of cancer.
We do not wish to scare servicemen and women but, more importantly, we certainly do not want to see any deaths that could have been avoided.
We are aware of past practices at HMAS Albatross that would not pass any workplace safety test today. Some of the older veterans who served on the base handling chemicals with scant regard for the long-term consequences now live with a good measure of uncertainty. Most of them are men, who are notoriously stubborn when it comes to getting regular medical check-ups. It’s important their families and friends nag, cajole and convince them to closely monitor their health.
It is a measure of widow Kristen Lukes’ strength of character that she feels no ill will towards the navy to which her late husband devoted his life. Her motivation to talk publicly is noble – to make sure there is awareness of the potential health risks posed to those who worked on the Sea Kings.
Sadly, this is not the first time the lives of defence personnel have been cut short by exposure to carcinogens while carrying out their duties.
After the Vietnam War we saw the deadly legacy of the defoliant Agent Orange and after that the cancers that cut down air force personnel who maintained the F111’s fuel systems.
We hope – and, given the past record, it is a leap of faith – that those who serve their country in times to come get the protection they need when handling or working around dangerous chemicals and substances.