Tier Definitions

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.

{Extraneous work descriptors removed}

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 period of between 10 and 29 cumulative 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.

{Extraneous work descriptors removed}

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 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 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: Personnel working on sealant rework (pick and patch) inside fuselage fuel tanks of the F -111 aircraft for a period of not less than 60 cumulative 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.

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: Personnel working on sealant rework (pick and patch) inside fuselage fuel tanks of the F -111 aircraft for a period of between 10 and 59 cumulative working days while attached to a deseal/reseal section of 3AD/501WG, over the period 1973 to 2000.

As per Category 1

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 period of not less than 30 cumulative  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 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

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 deseal/reseal 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  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 personnel 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.

Additional Information: Personnel indirectly involved in deseal/reseal, 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.

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.

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 formal deseal/reseal program, at RAAF Base Amberley, who came into contact with aviation fuel contaminated with deseal/reseal by-products 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.