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SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SAS EXPERT COMMITTEE
In making its recommendations, the Expert Panel has been conscious of the need to ensure that members of the
SASR receive every opportunity to train and prepare for action in a manner that is as realistic as possible. Although
there are guidelines that soldiers generally work within, there is also a need for them to have the freedom to
make decisions that vary from those guidelines if the situation calls for it.
Having had regard to the likely levels of exposure reported by SAS veterans and the sound medical-scientific evidence
as to the adverse health effects of the exposures of concern, the Expert Panel has made the following recommendations:
1. In relation to past exposure to lead, testing is unnecessary for SAS veterans, except where indicated in the
context of clinical investigations.
2. Occupational health authorities within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) should determine whether current practice
for measuring airborne lead concentration in training facilities and blood lead levels in SAS members in training
is satisfactory in terms of occupational standards [National Standard for the Control of Inorganic Lead at Work,
National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, 1994- see Appendix B).
3. For the purposes of the relevant Statements of Principles, the RMA should consider whether "irritant"
definitions and other listed definitions should include CS exposure.
4. Respiratory function monitoring is not considered necessary for all those exposed to coloured smokes and masking
agents, except where clinically indicated.
5. The RMA and occupational health authorities within the ADF should monitor literature on the potential human
carcinogenicity of hexachloroethane smoke and its combustion products and also 2-aminoanthroquinone, solvent yellow
33 and disperse blue 180 (chemical constituents of certain coloured smokes). Within the limitations of training
and operational requirements, it would be prudent to minimise exposure to coloured smoke and masking agents.
6. The ADF should maintain a central registry of the type and composition of coloured smokes and masking agents
in order to facilitate the future risk assessment of veterans.
7. Potential exposure to asbestos in SAS veterans should be taken into account where indicated in the context of
clinical investigation.
8. Statements of Principles for common overuse injuries should be developed.
9. The RMA should continue to monitor the medical-scientific evidence on the health effects of stress and stressors
and modify Statements of Principles when appropriate.
10. The RMA should develop Statements of Principles for certain diving related medical conditions not currently
covered, including decompression illness, pulmonary barotrauma and dysbaric osteonecrosis and should consider diving
and pressure effects in relevant Statements of Principles.
11. There is no indication for or benefit from testing all SAS veterans or their offspring for chromosomal aberrations.
12. In view of the possible concerns arising in the context of the previous genetic testing performed on some SAS
veterans, those veterans and their families should be provided with the opportunity to receive genetic counselling
and, if appropriate, chromosome studies at an accredited laboratory.
13. The programs to facilitate transition to civilian life currently being piloted by the ADF and DVA should be
further evaluated and, if shown to be effective, disseminated as per usual practice.
14. A systematic, prospective program for health surveillance of positive and negative outcomes should be established
for serving personnel and veterans and should include documentation of relevant exposures.
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This page last updated 20 September 2004.
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