Firefighter cancer prevention

Protect yourself the way you protect others.

In the spring of 2020, WorkSafe Saskatchewan conducted a survey with 141 Saskatchewan firefighters. The survey focused on 26 firefighter cancer prevention items and found multiple gaps in the firefighter cancer preventive measures.

This project was created to fill in the gaps and reinforce preventive measures through an educational video. The full video can be viewed in its entirety on YouTube or as 31 separate videos here. The videos focus on three major areas:

  • firefighter cancer awareness
  • firefighter cancer prevention
  • firefighter cancer support

Firefighter cancer prevention

Protect yourself the way you protect others.

In the spring of 2020, WorkSafe Saskatchewan conducted a survey with 141 Saskatchewan firefighters. The survey focused on 26 firefighter cancer prevention items and found multiple gaps in the firefighter cancer preventive measures.

This project was created to fill in the gaps and reinforce preventive measures through an educational video. The full video can be viewed in its entirety on YouTube or as 31 separate videos here. The videos focus on three major areas:

  • firefighter cancer awareness
  • firefighter cancer prevention
  • firefighter cancer support

Personal stories of those affected by firefighter cancer

Jason Scriver

Jason Scriver, a fire inspector for Regina and former firefighter with Balgonie discusses his personal battle with cancer.

Nikkii McClelland

Nikkii McClelland shares the story of her husband’s battle and ultimate passing from occupational firefighter cancer. Darren McClelland was a fire chief in Swift Current, Sask. Nikkii discusses what life is like without Darren and encourages firefighters to do everything they can to prevent a cancer diagnosis.

Firefighter safe work practices

Step 1

Wear self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) during all fire suppression activity.

Step 2

Wear SCBAs in close proximity of the fire.

Step 3

Wear SCBAs during fire investigation and overhaul.

Step 4

Use wipes to remove harmful contaminants.

Step 5

Wash hands before eating or drinking on scene.

Step 6

P.E.R. – Preliminary exposure reduction.

Step 7

Transport personal protective equipment (PPE) outside of the cab if possible.

Step 8

Clean contaminated gear/tools post-incident.

Step 9

Take a shower as soon as possible following a fire.

Step 10

Wash PPE as soon as possible after returning from a fire.

Step 11

Switch into backup PPE as soon as possible after a fire.

Step 12

Upgrade PPE with particulate blocking technology.

Step 13

Keep PPE in totes when transporting in vehicles.

Step 14

Never bring PPE inside fire station living quarters.

Step 15

Avoid storing PPE in the apparatus bay.

Step 16

Only use PPE on required calls to avoid exposures.

Step 17

Use diesel exhaust systems as recommended.

Step 18

Avoid storing frequently used items above exhaust.

Step 19

Keep living quarters doors shut.

Step 20

Avoid tobacco products.

Step 21

Conduct annual medical and skin exams.

Step 22

Use sunscreen and wear a hat when outdoors.

Step 23

Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.

Step 24

Make sleep and sleep recovery a priority.

Step 25

Keep documentation of exposures from fire calls.

An introduction by Kevin Mooney

Kevin Mooney, vice president of prevention and employer services, for the Saskatchewan Worker’s Compensation Board. Welcome to the firefighter cancer prevention video series provided by WorkSafe Saskatchewan.

Jim Burneka

Jim Burneka, founder of the Firefighter Cancer Consultants, discusses how this video project came to be and the threat of occupational firefighter cancer.

Firefighter Cancer Action Plan: pilot program

In 2021, firefighter cancer was the second leading cause of occupational disease-related fatalities in the province.

WorkSafe Saskatchewan commissioned this pilot program with the Firefighter Cancer Consultants after seeing a significant increase in firefighter occupational cancer diagnoses and deaths. The purpose of the pilot program was to gain a better understanding of the current firefighter cancer preventative landscape throughout the province.

There were 15 stations (including eight departments) that participated in this pilot program. The departments ranged from small rural volunteer departments to large metropolitan career departments. The pilot program consisted of policy reviews, fire station inspections and in-depth interviews with fire department members. The interviews gave insight into how the departments function regarding firefighter cancer issues on scene and at the firehouse.

Each participating department received an individualized action plan report. The reports provided practical recommendations based upon the current practices to ensure the departments implement the best practices known to reduce their members’ risk of being diagnosed with an occupational cancer. The complete findings and recommendations were shared amongst Saskatchewan fire chiefs at their April 2019 conference in Moose Jaw.

How firefighters can cut their cancer risk

Several ways fire stations can step up their cancer prevention efforts were identified during the pilot program.

Some of these measures, the “low-hanging fruit,” have minimal or no cost and are relatively easy for firefighters to do. They include:

Firefighters can use the fire hose to spray down their colleagues. “Water alone takes off 42 per cent of contaminants from the outer layer of fire gear,” says Jim Burneka Jr. of Firefighter Cancer Consultants. The use of dish soap and a brush doubles the effectiveness of this.

Ideally, firefighters should remove their uniforms at the fire scene, place them in clear bags (for easy identification) and wash them once they’re back at the station. At the very least, if they return to the station in uniform, they should cover the cab seats with a plastic tarp to curtail contamination.

Showering as soon as possible after a fire.

Firefighters should keep a record of the fires they fought, what they wore and the tasks they performed — helpful information should they ever receive a cancer diagnosis.

The “high-hanging fruit”, or the measures that may take longer to implement, were also identified. They include:

This is extremely important because of carcinogens in smoke, soot and tar. SCBA is heavy, so first responders should take breaks during overhaul and drink plenty of water.

These machines are gentler on PPE than consumer washing machines. “The G-force in residential clothes washers can actually damage gear,” making it less protective, says Burneka Jr.

At the station, gear shouldn’t be stored outside in the apparatus bay, where it can be exposed to diesel exhaust. Instead, it should be hung in a dry, well-ventilated room away from ultraviolet light (UV rays can degrade the material in PPE).

Purchasing backup sets of PPE in case firefighters are dispatched to another fire before their gear has been washed.

Purchasing particulate blocking hoods, which protect the neck from absorbing toxins.

Burneka Jr. favours closed-source hose systems, which suck diesel exhaust from firetrucks and release it into the atmosphere. Fire halls with a pole hole should ensure the hole has a complete seal so exhaust doesn’t enter the living quarters.

Taking the lead to reduce firefighter cancer risk

Fire halls make improvements following WorkSafe partnership audit

Two fire halls in Saskatchewan, including the Prince Albert Fire Department and Weyburn Fire Services, have made improvements to protect firefighters from the risk of firefighter cancer following WorkSafe’s partnership audit of fire halls last year.

Prince Albert Fire Department

In an article published on the paNOW website, Fire Chief Kris Olsen said that the department has improved the way they decontaminate gear. Some steps include:

  • An exhaust extraction system hooks to the exhaust pipe on the fire trucks. This system filters out harmful gas.
  • Firefighters use a decontamination kit at the scene of the fire for themselves and their gear. This includes brushes and a water hose. Back at the hall, firefighters remove their equipment. The gear is then washed in a special extraction washer that uses a high volume of water.
  • The department is working on ensuring each firefighter has an extra set of equipment to use for the next call.
  • The department has improved their balaclavas, a garment that covers firefighters’ ears and neck.

“That’s one more step we took to protect the guys,” Olsen said in the article.

Weyburn Fire Services

In an article published on the Discover Weyburn website, Fire Chief Simon Almond outlined steps the fire hall is taking after reading the recommendations:

  • Firefighters always wear full bunker gear when attending to a fire. Firefighters use a self-contained breathing apparatus when they attend a fire and they use the apparatus through the overhaul and investigation process.
  • The department washes all personal protective equipment in specialized washers.
  • The fire hall removed the diesel exhaust systems.
  • Firefighters document exposures when attending a fire.

“So we want to make sure that when we go to a fire, we document it,” said Almond in the Discover Weyburn article. “If we know what they’ve been exposed to, we can document it, so that in the future, should something happen they could say on that day they were exposed to this.”

Resources

Firefighter cancer awareness
Your health matters to all of us

Cancer risk in firefighting
poster

Firefighter cancer exposure
form

Skin cancer and firefighters
Check your skin

Skin cancer and firefighters
What you need to know

Fight skin cancer on and off the job
poster

Firefighter occupational exposure reduction: Best practices and intervention workshop final report

Firefighter occupational disease coverage 

Presumptive care letter

Firefighter Cancer Action Plan
summary report