Asbestos & Fireproofing

[Lynsey Shaw]

When the QE2 was first built, the fire insulation product of the day was asbestos and my research has shown it was used in the internal walls throughout the ship and for insulating wires and boilers.  

I was wondering if this was ever removed, as the times have changed.

Not sure if I have this in the right place!

[Rob Lightbody]

Some of it will have been disturbed/removed in 1986/1987 when they rebuilt her engine rooms etc. but the vast majority will still be there.

Asbestos is only a problem if it is disturbed, and turns to dust etc, as long as they left it alone, it didn't matter.

The recent refit of the "Rotterdam" for her static role as a hotel raised the same issues - I believe they removed all her asbestos while also then managing to replace most of her original interiors, presumably with modern fireproofing material.

[Lynsey Shaw]

Thank you Rob...filled a blank in my research.  Do you have a source for that?

[hull736mole]

Hi Lynsey

A full time environmental officer travelled on board whose job was continually monitor the level of asbestos in the air onboard QE2...for safety purposes

A company called Adamson Laboratory Services were heavily involved

Hope that helps!

[ancoaster78]

Hey Lynsey,

David Hutchings book 'A Ship for all Seaons' describes the fire resistant paneling used for the interiors and the asbestos in them, I will check it out this evening when I get home if you would like as cant remember the exact details off the top of my head.... I remember one story about health concerns raised when a huge amount of dust from these boards filled the new galley when it was being fitted out in the location of the former lookout bar in 1972. That book is a really excellent reference.

Cheers, Andy

[Rob Lightbody]

Thanks to Andy for tipping me off which book to look at... from page 25 of the Hutchins book -

2,000,000 square feet of "marinite" asbestos-based sheeting was used on board the ship.  This was used as a backing to formica or wood veneer facings and also used as ceiling panels concealed behind cedar or aluminium panels.

"the perilous effects of working with asbestos were just beginning to be recognized " and the legislation surround its use had to be fully complied with.  Drilling and cutting machines had vacuum extractors fitted, and all waste was very carefully removed and disposed of.

[Rob Lightbody]

I was just reading some more.

And its an example of how no expense was spared for QE2 & Safety, and how she managed to sail on through decades worth of safety legislation...

Cunard had the option of EITHER using as little flammable material as possible (the American method) OR the British concept of having water and gas sprinklers everywhere, they did BOTH.

[Lynsey Shaw]

Guys this information is truly fantastic.  My pad of notes from this forum alone is growing by the day.  I will make sure to put this forum in the acknowledgements section of the dissertation!

[Blue Bombay]

You see lots of theses during refits

[Lynsey Shaw]

Is that a photograph you have taken yourself mate?  If so when did you take it and can I put it in my evidence archive?

[Bob C.]

Lynsey, how was your research trip - or has that not taken place yet?

[Lynsey Shaw]

Haven't managed to get to John Brown's archive yet mate, though I do plan to go next week at some point.  I keep putting it off for no apparent reason, I am in holiday mode.  I managed to get down to London to the National Maritime Museum, which does hold some fascinating documents.  However, one day was not enough.  Will need to get back down there when I am not skint! 

[Twynkle]

Re. Workers exposure to asbestos
(not referring to asbestos in enclosed casing)

From British Asbestos Newsletter
Issue 32: Autumn 1998

Shipboard and shipbreaking exposures

'.....Last year[1997], Cunard was cautioned about the risks of ship-board asbestos exposure by Dr. Nigel Roberts, the principal medical officer on the QE2 for twenty years. According to his solicitor: "Filipino crew members were used to strip out the vessel without any protection. Dr. Roberts objected most strongly to that and was concerned about the health and safety of crew members." Roberts initiated an action for unfair dismissal after being made redundant in September, 1997....'

Report  complied by Laurie Kazan-Allen
copyright Jerome Consultants

[Twynkle]

Article highlighting 
reasons for current concern regarding asbestosis disease and personal injury claims
made by individuals who worked on QE2, where there  disturbance of asbestos.

http://www.redress.co.uk/news/redress_press_released2be.html?rel_ID=41

[Twynkle]

This notice could be relevant - someone at the lab will know the results of testing.
Presuming this related to testing the environment for asbestos.

http://www.ukas.org/testing/schedules/actual/0675Testing%20Multiple_016.pdf

[Richard Coltman]

Reading that article it's a very sad legacy.

[Lynsey Shaw]

I have just caught up with this I do apologise!  Thanks very much to everyone for their responses.

It is the sad legacy that I am researching.  The figures for mesothelioma was 512 per million of the population. That is set to rise over the next 20 years. The high figures have been attributed to the high concentration of the labour force working in the Clydebank shipyards and the presence of the Turner Asbestos Cement factory, Kilbowie.  Due to the large amount of asbestos used in the initial construction of the QE2, it makes for a very good case study.  However, we must remember that asbestos was a very effective fire safety product and had been used extensively in shipbuilding from the 19th century.  Some historians have even gone as far to say that it saved more lives than what it has taken.  I have found some good news in terms of this and I will be happy to report once the research is completed. 

[Rob Lightbody]

See attached - thought it was interesting!