FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2022
Research shows that fire fighters are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer than the general public – a trend that fire service organizations hope to reduce. (Fire Fighter Cancer Support Network).
The British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA), an affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) are partnering to deliver targeted education about best practices and resources to prevent and reduce cancer among fire fighters during “Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month in January”.
The month-long campaign includes training briefs and a focus on prevention and mitigation, including the scope of the cancer in the fire service, best practices for prevention and skills to help survivors of occupational cancer.
These topics are reinforced with online resources, such as daily training information and infographics that promote the program and underline the importance of the issue on social media, as well as podcasts addressing the important issues of prevention and documentation of exposures to carcinogens. Visit facebook.com/bcpffa
"Ensuring the health and well-being of fire fighters is our top priority so we can keep our fire fighter families and communities safe. Further education is necessary as is more assistance and resources for fire fighters when it comes to navigating an occupational cancer diagnosis. Working together with Fire Service leaders, the BC government, and WorkSafeBC on prevention and education will increase cancer awareness and save lives." says President Gord Ditchburn.
Several best practices and policies centred around Cancer Awareness and Prevention among fire fighters need to be implemented in all Fire Departments and are listed here on the FCSN’s Resource Library.
The BC Government in 2005 enacted legislation that presumes certain cancers and recognized illnesses/diseases are occupationally related to fire fighting. Fire fighters must meet certain cumulative periods for each cancer/disease to engage the workers compensation process and receive the benefits of the presumptive coverage. While BC currently recognizes 13 different types of cancers as occupational among fire fighters, Ditchburn says “we are sadly falling behind many other provincial jurisdictions; there's room to add several more cancers as science confirms their link to our dangerous profession”.
The Primary Sites for cancers that are recognized in this BC Workers Compensation Act are: Bladder, Brain, Breast, Colorectal, Esophageal, Kidney, Leukemia, Lung. Multiple Myeloma Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Prostate, Testicular, Ureter. During our 2022 Legislative lobbying effort, we will again be asking the BC Government to recognize an additional five cancers - Pancreatic, Thyroid, Penile, as well as female reproductive cancers - Cervical and Ovarian. In addition, we are seeking to reduce the cumulative periods for Colorectrol, Testicular to 10 years (from 20 yrs) and Esophageal to 15 years (from 20 years). It is paramount that we address the cancer risk for all members.” says Ditchburn.
BCPFFA is raising awareness on cancer rates among Fire Fighters
According to the IAFF database, eighty-four (84) BC Professional Fire Fighters have died from recognized occupational cancers in the past, cancers formally deemed to have resulted from workplace exposure and were covered under WorkSafeBC. “Our members are increasingly being diagnosed with cancer as a result of on-the-job exposures. We have had the sad duty of adding far too many of their names to the Line of Duty Death list of our BCPFFA Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial,” says President Ditchburn. “That’s why we have partnered with the IAFF and FCSN to establish January as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month – to give our hard-working members the most up-to-date guidance and data that will allow them the opportunity to enjoy a long, safe career and a healthy retirement.”
Source IAFF
Source IAFF
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MEDIA CONTACT
Gord Ditchburn
President BC Professional Fire Fighters Association
c: 604.916.7100
ABOUT THE BCPFFA
Established in 1929, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA) is an affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). The BCPFFA is comprised of 53 IAFF locals who represent over 4,200 professional men and women fire fighters, dispatchers, prevention officers and support members in BC, including the Yukon.
