A REPORT from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has found that ‘urgent action’ was needed to protect firefighters from cancer and other illnesses related to firefighting pollutants.
The FBU discussed the report and its findings, noting that the ‘ground-breaking’ research revealed ‘serious health risks to UK firefighters following exposure to toxic fire effluents’, or the chemicals released during a fire. It is a ‘UK first’ but the ‘latest in a growing body of international evidence suggesting an increased risk of firefighters developing cancer and other diseases’.
Among the ‘cocktail of toxic, irritant and carcinogenic chemicals’ released in fires are aerosols, dusts, fibres, smoke, fumes, gases and vapours, and UCLan tested sites at 18 fire stations alongside a survey of firefighters that got 10,000 responses. The indoor air testing at stations and training centres ‘highlighted’ that firefighters are ‘still being exposed’ to ‘high levels of toxic contaminants during and after a fire’.
In turn, ‘cancer-causing’ chemicals remain on personal protective equipment (PPE) clothing, equipment ‘and elsewhere’ on fire grounds, while test samples revealed carcinogens ‘inside firefighters’ helmets, on PPE, and even on breathing apparatus mask filters’. The survey meanwhile asked currently serving firefighters questions to ‘better understand’ decontamination practices and the prevalence of illness.
This found that 4.1% of respondents ‘had already been diagnosed with cancer’ compared to ‘less than 1% of the general population’, and three quarters of these had served ‘for at least 10 years before receiving their diagnoses’. Over half were under 50, and a fifth under 40, with 26% having skin cancer, 10% testicular cancer, 4% head and neck cancer and 3% Non-Hodgkin’ lymphoma.
Half of responded didn’t think their fire and rescue service (FRS) took decontamination practices ‘seriously’, such as cleaning PPE and equipment; while one in five said they stored fire gloves in boots, another one in five stored them in their pockets, and one in ten stored gloves in helmets. All of these decisions, the FBU said, risked the ‘transfer of toxic contaminants directly to skin’.
Nearly half believed there was a ‘badge of honour’ attitude in FRSs, ‘particularly when emerging from fries with contaminants on their PPE or face as a sign of hard work’. The UCLan team, including professor of fire chemistry and toxicity Anna Stec, produced a best practice guide for FRSs, including a number of ‘urgent recommendations’ on how to minimise firefighter exposure to toxic fire effluents.
Among the points made in the guide were that every FRS implement ‘fully risk-assessed decontamination procedures en-route to, during and after fire incidents’, and ensure ‘all relevant staff are trained in implementing these’; and that FRS personnel ‘receive regular and up-to-date training on the harmful health effects of exposure to toxic fire effluents’, and how these can be ‘reduced, minimised or eliminated’.
Further points of advice included that firefighters should ‘wear respiratory protective equipment at all ties while firefighting’, including ‘after a fire has been extinguished, but is still “gassing off”’; that PPE be clean and ‘thoroughly decontaminated after every incident to avoid a build-u of toxic contaminants’; and that firefighters should shower ‘within an hour of returning from incidents’.
The guidance also recommended that firefighters have ‘regular health screening[s]’ and record their attendance at incidents over their career, with this ‘strongly advised’ as it will ‘be key to the longer-term monitoring and management of their health’. The FBU pointed out that across Canada and the United States, ‘presumptive legislation’ recognises that certain cancers are ‘occupational diseases’ among firefighters’.
However, in the UK ‘it has so far been concluded that there is not considered to be enough evidence to link occupational exposure to carcinogenic fire effluents and the higher risk of cancers’, which means that ‘if a firefighter believes their illness is work-related, they are required to prove it’, which the FBU calls ‘an almost impossible retroactive task’.
Prior to publishing the report, the Environmental Audit Committee recommended that the Health and Safety Executive implement the recommendations made, with the government responding that it would instruct the latter to ‘monitor the research and to ensure [FRSs] identify risks to firefighters’.
Under UK law, firefighter PPE must meet heat resistance, transfer and water resistance requirements, but ‘is not required to protect wearers from toxic gases and particulates’, with the FBU stating that the report is ‘the first stage of ongoing research examining the link between firefighters’ exposure to toxic fire effluents and the risk of cancer and other diseases’.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack commented: ‘Firefighters risk their lives every day to keep their communities safe. But it’s clear that the risk to their health doesn’t stop when the fire has been extinguished. Sadly we often see serving and former firefighters suffer from cancer and other illnesses.
‘Every firefighter knows the fear that, someday, they and their family could receive the devastating news – but we’re determined to do all we can to reduce the risk of firefighters developing these terrible diseases as a result of their job. There are some hard truths for fire and rescue services in this report – and far more needs to be done to protect firefighters from cancer and other illnesses.
‘And among firefighters, there are still some myths to dispel, which is why regular and up to date training on the risk to their health is so essential. This research is a crucial first step to definitively proving the link between firefighting, toxic contaminants, and cancer in the UK. The Health and Safety Executive must urgently implement the recommendations to bring life-saving measures into place as soon as possible.’
Professor Stec added: ‘These recommendations are vital if we are to improve firefighters’ health and well-being, keep them safe and prevent exposure to toxic chemicals, which can lead to life-changing problems or premature death. They must be implemented swiftly to reduce the health risks firefighters face.
‘This report highlights some of the risks and sources of contamination that firefighters are exposed to on a regular basis, and how these can be controlled. We hope that this guidance will be adopted and used by the fire sector across the UK and beyond so the overall exposure of firefighters and their families is reduced.’