Continuing the saga on how PFAS is being dealt with in the ACT, the Canberra Times on 4 December 2018 reported on the findings of a national parliamentary report on the use of toxic firefighting foam on Defence bases. The report adds “further impetus to the ongoing campaign by ACT firefighters to have its past and present members blood tested to determine if they have been affected.”
PFAS is the acronym used to describe per- and polyflouroalkyl substances, a highly toxic firefighting foam chemical, which was phased out of active firefighting use in the ACT in 2005, but is known to leave a legacy of contamination and has been linked to a raft of health problems, including autoimmune deficiencies and cancer.
As the Canberra Times story reports, the UFU insists there “is an obligation on the ACT government, through WorkSafe ACT, to ensure the health of workers and that workplace conditions are monitored to prevent illness or injury.”
More on the parliamentary committee’s report can be found in this story of 3 December 2018 and information about the inquiry and the report can be found here.