F-111 deseal/reseal and fuel tank maintenance workers

Overview of benefits and schemes for F-111 workers

Overview
This Factsheet provides an overview of the benefits and services available to F-111 fuel tank
maintenance workers. It provides information about the health care and compensation you
can access if you are recognised as an F-111 deseal/reseal or fuel tank maintenance worker.
It also provides information about the ex-gratia scheme for certain F-111 workers.
Who is an F-111 deseal/reseal or fuel tank maintenance worker?
An F-111 deseal/reseal or fuel tank maintenance worker is someone who is classified as
being a Tier 1, 2 or 3 participant, or a Group 1 participant (see definition table below).
What is an F-111 deseal/reseal or fuel tank maintenance worker entitled to?
Tier 1, 2 and 3 participants are entitled to compensation, health care and counselling.
Tier 1 and 2 participants are entitled to a lump sum payment under the ex-gratia scheme.
Certain personnel who do not meet a Tier definition are entitled to health care and
counselling for certain conditions if they meet the definition of a Group 1 participant.
(Factsheets outlining the health care benefits are available via the F-111 website at:
http//: f111.dva.gov.au).
How do I have my Tier classification or Group 1 status determined?
You can apply to have your Tier classification or Group 1 status determined by completing
the D9021 Application for Tier Classification form. See Factsheet F111-02 – Tier definitions
for more information. A Table of definitions, outlining which category of work/worker fits into
which of the three Tiers, is attached.
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F111-01 – Last updated: 11 Feb 11 Page 2 of 11
What can I claim compensation for?
You can claim compensation for any illness or disease you believe is related to your service.
Depending on the type of service you have, you may claim under the Safety, Rehabilitation
and Compensation Act 1988 SRCA or Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA).
If you are a Tier 1, 2 or 3 participant, you are not required to prove causation (ie, no need to
prove a link between your service and the illness) to claim compensation under subsection
7(2) of the SRCA if you are suffering from any of 31 specified conditions. These conditions
were identified by the Doctor’s Advisory Committee, based on consideration of the results
from the Study of Health Outcomes of Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP).
For conditions not on the list of 31 you need to prove a causal link to your service.
Evidence and Statutory Declarations
In gathering evidence to support an application for Tier classification, or to support any
subsequent claims for health care, compensation, or ex gratia payments, you will be asked
for documentary evidence regarding your F-111 employment. When considering your Tier
application and claims, DVA will take into account official Australian Defence Force records
including your service records and PMKeyS data.
Where the usual documentary evidence is not available, and in the absence of evidence to
the contrary, a statutory declaration confirming your involvement in eligible F-111 work,
accompanied by a second corroborating statutory declaration by an authorised person will be
accepted as evidence in considering your claim.
More information about what to provide in a statutory declaration, and who can provide them,
is available in Factsheet F111- 05 Statutory Declarations. There are also Statutory
Declaration Guidelines on the F-111 website.
What can I receive health care for?
If you are a Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 or Group 1 participant, you can receive health care under
the SHOAMP Health Care Scheme for a number of specified conditions(see F111-07), if you
have lodged a claim for compensation for these conditions.
Health care is provided under the SHOAMP Health Care Scheme until your claim is
approved. Thereafter health care is provided under the SRCA or Veterans’ Entitlements Act
1986 (VEA) (whichever Act your claim is accepted under).
What counselling am I entitled to?
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F111-01 – Last updated: 11 Feb 11 Page 3 of 11
If you are a Tier 1, 2 or 3 or Group 1 or 2 participant, you can receive counselling under the
SHOAMP Health Care Scheme.
What is the ex-gratia lump sum payment scheme?
The ex-gratia scheme recognises the unique working environment that formal participants of
the deseal/reseal program experienced. You will receive a lump sum payment of $40,000 if
you are classified as Tier 1 and $10,000 if you are classified as Tier 2. You should submit the
D9021 Application for Tier Classification form if you believe you meet the definition.
What is the definition of a Tier 1, 2 or 3 participant?
The following table provides the definitions for Tier 1, 2 and 3 participant.
Table of Tier definitions
Category Tier 1 definition
(formal deseal/reseal
programs only)
Tier 2 definition
(formal deseal/reseal
programs only)
Tier 3 definition
1. Fuselage
deseal/reseal or
respray
programs and
‘pick and patch’
maintenance
A person who spent at least
30 cumulative working days
on the fuselage
deseal/reseal or respray
programs during the period
1977 – 1982, 1991 – 1993
and 1996 – 2000, whose
duties involved working
inside F-111 fuel tanks.
Additional Information:
Personnel who worked
inside body fuel tanks of the
F-111 aircraft for extended
periods of time for a
cumulative period of not
less than 30 working days,
removing sealant and/or
resealing the tanks.
This category includes only
personnel employed in the
formal F-111 deseal/reseal
and respray programs over
the period 1977 to 1982,
1991 to 1993 and 1996 to
2000.
This does not include motor
transport drivers employed
as fuel tank drivers who
may have been responsible
for de-fuelling F-111 aircraft
prior to deseal/reseal
activities being undertaken.
A person who spent between 10
and 29 cumulative working days
on the fuselage deseal/reseal or
respray programs during the
period 1977 – 1982, 1991 –
1993 and 1996 – 2000, whose
duties involved working inside
F-111 fuel tanks.
Additional Information:
Personnel who worked inside
body fuel tanks of the F-111
aircraft for extended periods of
time for a cumulative period of
between 10 and 29 working
days, removing sealant and/or
resealing the tanks.
This category includes only
personnel employed in the
formal F-111 deseal/reseal and
respray programs over the
period 1977 to 1982, 1991 to
1993 and 1996 to 2000.
This does not include motor
transport drivers employed as
fuel tank drivers who may have
been responsible for de-fuelling
F-111 aircraft prior to
deseal/reseal activities being
undertaken.
Personnel who were employed in F-
111 fuel tank maintenance, or other
maintenance or directly related tasks,
prior to January 2000 where their
work included physical entry to the
fuel tank to conduct that maintenance
or task.
Additional information: Personnel
described in this category include
those who worked as direct
participants in the formal F-111
deseal/reseal programs carrying out
deseal and reseal tasks, including
training, inside fuel tanks. It also
includes personnel who worked
inside fuel tanks carrying out ad hoc
‘pick and patch’ fuel tank
maintenance outside those formal
programs.
This category applies regardless of
what location the work occurred (e.g.
RAAF Base Amberley, RAAF Base
Edinburgh, in the United States or at
other locations).
This category is phrased broadly.
The principal trade groups in this
category carrying out maintenance
work on the fuel tank itself was the
airframe fitter trade (later renamed
aircraft technician). Other
maintenance tasks were regularly
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F111-01 – Last updated: 11 Feb 11 Page 4 of 11
carried out inside F-111 fuel tanks by:
• aircraft metal worker trade
• surface finisher trade
• electrical fitter trade.
A number of other trade groups may
also have carried out maintenance
and other directly related tasks inside
F-111 fuel tanks including
• non-destructive inspection
technicians,
• instrument fitters
• photographers.
The trade groups listed here are not
exhaustive and it is possible that
personnel from other trade groups
carried out work inside F-111 fuel
tanks and may be eligible under this
definition. The most important factor
is the nature of the work performed.
This category is not intended to cover
personnel who may have entered F-
111 fuel tanks to perform work other
than maintenance or other directly
related tasks.
2. Wing tank
program
A person who spent at least
30 cumulative working days
on the wing tank program
during the period 1985 –
1992.
Additional Information:
Personnel employed full
time on the formal wing
tank program actively
removing and replacing
sealant for a period of not
less than 30 cumulative
working days between 1985
and 1992.
A person who spent between 10
and 29 cumulative working days
on the wing tank program
during the period 1985 – 1992.
Additional Information:
Personnel employed full time on
the formal wing tank program
actively removing and replacing
sealant for a cumulative period
of between 10 and 29
cumulative working days
between 1985 and 1992.
Personnel who were employed on
the wing tank program during the
period 1985 – 1992.
Additional information: Personnel
described in category 2 include those
who worked as direct participants in
the F-111 wing tank deseal/reseal
program, known as the third
deseal/reseal program. It has been
retained as a separate category
because in the strictest sense it did
not necessarily involve fuel tank
‘entry’. It did however involve
exposure to deseal/reseal processes.
3. Sealant
rework (pick
and patch)
A person who spent at least
60 cumulative working days
carrying out sealant rework
(pick and patch) during the
period 1973 – 2000 while
attached to an F-111
deseal/reseal section.
Additional Information:
A person who spent between 10
and 59 cumulative working days
carrying out sealant rework
(pick and patch) during the
period 1973 – 2000 while
attached to an F-111
deseal/reseal section.
Additional Information:
As per Category 1
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Personnel working on
sealant rework (pick and
patch) inside fuselage fuel
tanks of the F – 111 aircraft
for a cumulative period of
not less than 60 working
days while attached to a
deseal/reseal section of
3AD/501WG, over the
period 1973 to 2000, plus
those six personnel posted
to Sacramento who
completed training in
deseal/reseal procedures.
Personnel working on sealant
rework (pick and patch) inside
fuselage fuel tanks of the F -
111 aircraft for a cumulative
period of between 10 and 59
working days while attached to
a deseal/reseal section of
3AD/501WG, over the period
1973 to 2000.
4. Boiler and
plant attendants
Boiler and plant attendants
whose usual place of duty
was the Base incinerator as
an incinerator operator, and
who spent at least 30
cumulative working days
undertaking these duties
during the period 1976 –
1986.
Additional Information:
Boiler and plant attendants
regularly disposing of
deseal/reseal products by
burning, in particular the
sealant remover SR51 and
SR51A, at the RAAF Base
Amberley incinerator, for a
cumulative period of not
less than 30 working days
between 1976 and 1986.
Boiler and plant attendants
whose usual place of duty was
the Base incinerator as an
incinerator operator, and who
spent between 10 and 29
cumulative working days
undertaking these duties during
the period 1976 – 1986.
Additional Information: Boiler
and plant attendants regularly
disposing of deseal/reseal
products by burning, in
particular the sealant remover
SR51 and SR51A, at the RAAF
Base Amberley incinerator, for a
cumulative period of between
10 and 29 cumulative working
days between 1976 and 1986.
Boiler and plant attendants whose
usual place of duty was the RAAF
Base Amberley incinerator as an
incinerator operator during the period
1976 – 1986
Additional information: Boiler and
plant attendants described in
category 4 were regularly engaged in
disposing of deseal/reseal products
by burning, in particular the sealant
remover SR51 and SR51A, at the
RAAF Base Amberley incinerator
between 1976 and 1986. This
category also includes any
Department of Construction workers
who undertook these duties during
the period.
5. Unable to
continue in F-
111 working
environment
A person who can
demonstrate that they
would have met one of the
above criteria except for the
fact that they:
• had an immediate
physical reaction; and
• required medical
treatment or intervention;
and
• were given a work
restriction or medical fitness
advice (PM 101) stating
that they should not return
to that working
environment.
A person who can demonstrate
that they would have met one of
the above criteria except for the
fact that they:
• had an immediate physical
reaction; and
• required medical treatment or
intervention; and
• were given a work restriction
or medical fitness advice (PM
101) stating that they should not
return to that working
environment.
N/A
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6. Fire fighters N/A Fire fighters employed as
instructors, whose usual place
of duty was the Fire Training
School fire pits and who spent
at least 60 cumulative working
days actively involved in the
burning of by-products from the
F-111 DSRS process during the
period 1976 – 1990.
Additional Information: Fire
fighters employed as instructors
permanently posted to a Unit at
RAAF Base Amberley, and who
were actively involved in
burning bi-products from the F-
111 DS/RS process (including
the sealant remover SR51 and
SR51A) at the fire pits, for
training and/or disposal
purposes, for a cumulative
period of not less than 60
working days during the period
1976 to 1990.
Fire fighters whose usual place of
duty was a Unit at RAAF Base
Amberley and who were actively
involved in the burning of by-products
from the F-111 deseal/reseal process
during the period 1976 – 1994.
Additional information: Personnel
who were actively involved in burning
by-products from the F-111
deseal/reseal process (including the
sealant remover SR51 and SR51A)
at the fire pits for training and/or
disposal purposes between 1976 and
1994.
7. Rag Hangar
personnel
N/A Personnel who were not
involved in tank entry and
whose usual place of duty was
the Rag Hangar for 60
cumulative working days during
the period Dec 1977 – Nov
1983.
Additional information:
Personnel are those for whom
their normal place of work was
the deseal/reseal air
transportable (‘Rag Hangar’)
hangar at RAAF Base
Amberley, and who provided
direct support to those staff
entering F-111 fuel tanks for a
period of 60 cumulative days.
This does not include those
personnel who may have
regularly visited these hangars
in the course of their duty.
Personnel who were not involved in
tank entry and whose usual place of
duty was the Rag Hangar at RAAF
Base Amberley during the period Dec
1977 – Nov 1983.
Additional information: Personnel
are those for whom their normal
place of work was the deseal/reseal
air transportable (‘Rag Hangar’)
hangar at RAAF Base Amberley, and
who provided direct support to those
staff entering F-111 fuel tanks. This
does not include those personnel
who may have regularly visited these
hangars in the course of their duty.
8. Hangar 255,
260, 277 or 278
personnel
N/A Personnel who were not
involved in tank entry and
whose usual place of duty was
Hangar 255, 260, 277 or 278 for
a period of 60 cumulative
working days during the period
1977 – 1982, 1991 – 1993 and
1996 – 2000.
Personnel who were not involved in
tank entry and whose usual place of
duty was Hangar 255, 260, 277 or
278 at RAAF Base Amberley during
the period 1977 – 1982, 1991 – 1993
and 1996 – 2000.
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Additional Information:
Personnel indirectly involved in
DS/RS, for whom their normal
place of work was Hangars 255,
260, 277 and 278, and who
provided direct support to those
staff entering F-111 fuel tanks
for a period of 60 cumulative
working days. This does not
include those personnel who
may have regularly visited these
Hangars in the course of their
duty.
Additional information: Personnel
described are those for whom their
normal place of work was Hangars
255, 260, 277 and 278 at RAAF Base
Amberley and who provided direct
support to those staff entering F-111
fuel tanks. This does not include
those personnel who may have
regularly visited these hangars in the
course of their duty.
9. Motor
transport drivers
N/A N/A Motor transport drivers involved in
the first deseal/reseal program, at
RAAF Base Amberley, who came
into contact with aviation fuel
contaminated with deseal/reseal byproducts
during the period 1977-
1982.
Additional information: Personnel
described do not include motor
transport drivers employed as fuel
tank drivers who may have been
responsible for de-fuelling F-111
aircraft prior to deseal/reseal
activities being undertaken.
10. Canvas
personnel
and/or Rag
Hangar
dismantling
workers
N/A N/A Maintenance personnel on the air
transportable (‘Rag’) Hangar, at
RAAF Base Amberley, who were
involved in removing/replacing
canvas or dismantling the Hangar
during 1978, 1980 and 1984.
11. Engine Test
Cell No 1
personnel
N/A N/A Personnel employed in Engine Test
Cell No 1, at RAAF Base Amberley,
during the period 1976 – 1986.
12. Warrill
Creek Settling
Pond – barrier
maintenance
personnel
N/A N/A Personnel who entered the Warrill
Creek Settling Pond for the purpose
of maintaining the physical barrier
during the period 1977– 2000.
Additional information: Personnel
described in this category include any
Department of Construction workers
who undertook these duties during
the period. However, this category
does not include Airfield Defence
Guards, Ground Defence Officers or
other personnel who may have
entered Warrill Creek for any other
purpose or reason.
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EXCLUSIONS
This definition does not include others indirectly involved in the DS/RS procedures such as:
1. K Group and 7SD personnel; and
2. ADG (or other personnel) who entered Warrill Creek for any other reason; and
3. Security personnel; and
4. Work experience students (other than de Havilland students who are included in Group 1).
What is the definition of a Group 1 participant?
A person meets the Group 1 definition for the purposes of accessing health care and
counselling under the SHOAMP Health Care Scheme if they meet any of the following
criteria:
• Personnel involved in the F-111 deseal/reseal training conducted in Sacramento USA.
• Personnel, including supervisors, involved in the formal F-111 deseal/reseal
programs.
• Personnel involved in the regular burning or disposal of F-111 deseal/reseal products.
• Personnel involved in ad hoc ‘pick and patch’ fuel tank maintenance on F-111 aircraft
prior to January 2000.
• Personnel involved in other maintenance or directly related tasks prior to January
2000 where their work required physical entry to an F-111 fuel tank to conduct that
maintenance or task.
• Personnel who dismantled and/or disposed of the canvas from the RAAF Base
Amberley Air Transportable Deseal/Reseal Hangar (the ‘Rag Hangar’).
• Personnel whose primary place of duty was within the deseal/reseal hangars or the
Air Transportable Deseal/Reseal Hangar (the ‘Rag Hangar’) at Amberley during one
or more of the formal deseal/reseal Programs.
• Personnel employed in Engine Test Cell No 1 during the period 1976 – 1986.
• Fuel farm workers and personnel involved in the transport, delivery and handling of F-
111 deseal/reseal products including SR51/51A. These workers and personnel must
have regularly performed duties of supply and disposal of F-111 deseal/reseal
products.
• Personnel immersed in the Warrill Creek Settling Pond at RAAF Base Amberley.
• Work Experience students at Hawker de Havilland who worked inside the tanks.
What conditions are included in subsection 7(2) of the SRCA and the SHOAMP Health Care
Scheme?
The following is a list of the conditions identified by the Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft
Maintenance Personnel as related to F-111 deseal/reseal service, for which compensation is
payable under subsection 7(2) of the SRCA and health treatment is provided under the
SHOAMP Health Care Scheme.
• Dysplastic naevus
• Eczema/dermatitis
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• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Erectile dysfunction
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Neurogenic bladder
• Non-alcoholic toxic encephalopathy
• Acquired colour vision deficiency
• Depression
• Sleep disorders with neurological basis
• Bi-polar affective disorder
• Vertigo
• Memory loss
• Anxiety
• Panic disorders
• Impaired cognition
• Malignant neoplasms
• Myeloproliferative disorders
• Liver disease
• Pancreatic disease
• Irritable bowel disorder
• Ulcerative colitis/Crohn’s disease
• Diverticulitis
• Bowel polyps
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Sarcoidosis
• Agoraphobia with panic disorder
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Contacts
DVA F-111 Tier classification team
Phone: 1800 555 323
DVA F-111 compensation processing team
Phone: 133 254
SHOAMP Health Care Scheme
Phone: 1800 728 007
Better Health Program
Phone: 1800 728 007
WorkCover Queensland
Phone: 1300 362 128
Comcare
Phone: 1300 366 979
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)
Phone: 1800 011 046
Military Compensation Liaison Officer
Phone: 1800 558 022
Commonwealth Ombudsman
Phone: 1300 362 072
Oral advice
While we make every effort to ensure that you are given accurate information, it is important
that you seek written confirmation of oral advice/information before making any major
decisions based on that information.
We continually strive to improve the level of service you receive and make this request as an
added safeguard for you.
Other Factsheets
Other Factsheets related to this topic include:
• Factsheet F-111 02: Tier definitions
• Factsheet F-111 04: Compensation and SRCA ss7(2)
• Factsheet F-111 05: Statutory declarations
• Factsheet F-111 06: Ex gratia payments
• Factsheet F-111 07: SHOAMP Health Care Scheme – services
• Factsheet F-111 08: SHOAMP Health Care Scheme – eligibility
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• Factsheet F-111 09: Better Health Program
More information
All DVA Factsheets are available from DVA offices, and on the DVA website at
www.dva.gov.au.
You can phone DVA for the cost* of a local call on 133 254 or free call 1800 555 254 if you
are outside a major city.
Note: * Use a normal landline phone if you can. Mobile phone calls may cost you more.
Local call rates vary depending on your phone service provider
You can send an email to DVA at: GeneralEnquiries@dva.gov.au.
You can get more help from any DVA office.

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