Defence Force to keep track of asbestos hazards

New Zealand Defence Force staff in East Timor will be the first to have concerns about exposure to chemical and environmental hazards recorded on health files.

The first hazard to be electronically recorded relates to potential exposure to environmental asbestos in East Timor.

Nearly all modern battlefield environments contained risks from a range of chemical and environmental hazards and the Defence Force was now able to record the exposure in their electronic health records system, director of Defence Health Dr Alison Drewry said.

"This means there will be an easier and better way for personnel to link any future health concerns and their service," Dr Drewry said.

The risk from exposure to building materials, like asbestos, used in East Timor was 'low' because New Zealanders' exposure was for short periods - not months or years.

"Activities undertaken by Defence Force people in these environments, including cleaning up debris, or even sleeping in disused buildings, may have potentially exposed them to dust containing asbestos," she said.

The system has been set up as a precautionary approach and will be used to identify, monitor and offer assistance to personnel with potential exposure to other hazardous substances while serving with the New Zealand Defence Force.

- NZPA