New FBU-commissioned research exposes the deadly risk toxic contaminants pose to firefighters.
Every firefighter knows a colleague or former colleague who has suffered from cancer or another serious illness.
Fires produce a cocktail of toxic, irritant and carcinogenic chemicals in the form of aerosols, dusts, fibres, smoke and fumes or gases and vapours. It should be little surprise that there are health risks to those who work in these environments.
In the United States, the plight of the first responders at ground zero on 9/11 exposed the fire and rescue sector’s dirty secret – firefighters seem to develop cancer and other illnesses at a higher rate than the general population.
In the time since, a growing body of international evidence has suggested that firefighters’ work increases their risk of developing cancer and other diseases, but there hasn’t been solid UK-based scientific research to prove it – until now.
The FBU has commissioned expert scientists from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to undertake ground-breaking research to examine how UK firefighters are exposed to toxic contaminants.
Led by Anna Stec, Professor in fire chemistry and toxicity, a team of UCLan scientists have now produced their first report.
The findings will be a wakeup call to many fire and rescue services that have been complacent about the health risk to their personnel. But we hope that the Best Practice document will bring some much-needed change in fire stations and training centres across the country.
Ahead of the report’s publication, the Environmental Audit Committee recommended that the Health and Safety Executive implement its report’s recommendations on improving firefighters’ work environments. In response the government confirmed that it would instruct HSE to monitor the research and to ensure fire and rescue services identify risks to firefighters.
There is more work to do – and UCLan have already begun testing the toxicity of firefighters’ work environments for the next stage of this research. But we are pleased to report that some fire and rescue services have already begun making positive changes.
If senior management can work closely with FBU health and safety reps to implement Professor Stec’s urgent recommendations, then firefighters will be exposed to fewer toxic contaminants – and lives may be saved in the process.
What we found
Indoor air testing at a number of fire stations and training centres highlighted that UK firefighters are still being exposed to the high levels of toxic contaminants during and after a fire, as cancer-causing chemicals remain on PPE clothing, equipment, and elsewhere at the fire ground.
Test samples revealed carcinogens inside firefighters’ helmets, PPE, and even breathing apparatus mask filters.
With help from the FBU, scientists surveyed more than 10,000 currently-serving firefighters to understand decontamination practices and the prevalence of illness in the fire and rescue service.
4.1% of respondents had been diagnosed with cancer, compared with less than 1% of the general population. Three quarters served for at least 10 years before receiving their diagnosis. More than half were under the age of 50 and a fifth were under 40.
Of those diagnosed, 26% have skin cancer, the most common, followed by testicular cancer (9%) and head and neck cancer (5%).
Shockingly, half of respondents do not think their station takes cleaning PPE and equipment seriously.
Scientists have raised concerns about how firefighters are currently storing their PPE. 1 in 5 store their fire gloves in their boots, 1 in 5 in their pockets, and 1 in 10 in their helmet. This can spread toxic contaminants to parts of clothing that are more likely to come into contact with firefighters’ skin.
What your service needs to do
The report puts forward a number of urgent recommendations to be implemented by fire and rescue services.
- Every fire and rescue service must have fully risk-assessed decontamination procedures (en-route to, during and after fire incidents), and ensure all relevant staff are trained in implementing these procedures.
- All fire and rescue personnel must receive regular and up-to-date training on the harmful health effects of exposure to toxic fire effluents, and how these exposures can be reduced, minimised or eliminated.
- All services should have policies in place for the routine care, maintenance, inspection and professional cleaning of PPE.
- As a priority for preventing cross-contamination, all stations and training centers should establish and strictly maintain “designated zones” within the fire station. PPE should never be worn in areas of the station designated a clean zone, like kitchens and living quarters, and should be stored away from personal items.
- To reduce secondary exposure to toxic chemicals, fire appliance cabs and equipment from emergency response vehicles should be cleaned and decontaminated on a regular basis, especially after fires.
What you need to do
There are also a number of recommendations aimed at firefighters. Implementing these recommendations is still the responsibility of your brigade, but all firefighters should be aware of what they need to do to protect themselves from cancer and other deadly illnesses.
- Breathing apparatus (BA) should be worn at all times whilst firefighting. This includes during salvage and turning over activities after firefighting has been completed, but whilst the building contents are still 'gassing off'. BA should be one of the last items of PPE removed during de-robing – and only after decontamination.
- PPE that has been exposed to fire, smoke, or fumes should be transported back to the station or workplace in an air-tight container to prevent cross-contamination.
- Avoid eating, drinking or smoking with unwashed hands whilst wearing, or after de-robing PPE that may be contaminated.
- After attending a fire, change into a set of clean, dry clothes as soon as possible, ideally before re-entering your vehicle.
- PPE should be cleaned and thoroughly decontaminated after every incident to avoid a build-up of toxic contaminants. It should be inspected for wear and damage on a regular basis, and replaced as necessary.
- You should wear a face mask and gloves when cleaning soiled equipment to protect areas of exposed skin and airways.
- "Shower within an hour" after a fire or training incident.
- Make sure you have regular health screenings and record your attendance at incidents over the course of your career, which can help monitor and manage your health in the long-term.
Sid McNally joined Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in January 1995. In 2012, when he was 48, his wife noticed a lump on his neck and insisted he go to his GP, who referred him to the hospital.
They took a biopsy of his neck and decided to remove the lump. After surgery, he was diagnosed with cancer of the base of the tongue. The consultant asked how many cigarettes he smoked per day, but he had never smoked.
The consultant had already diagnosed one of Sid’s colleagues, Steve, with the same head and neck cancer. Tragically Steve, also a non-smoker, died several years later.
Sid McNally said:
“I feel I was lucky as my cancer was identified at an early stage. With chemo and radiotherapy treatment, I managed to return to work in just over six months. Sadly my mate Steve, who I’d served with on the same watch for three years, did not survive.
“Contaminants were not understood for much of my time in the service and therefore weren’t taken seriously. When I joined, we wouldn’t even wear breathing apparatus when attending fires in the open, including car fires. Nowadays there are a lot more precautions and my station definitely overcame that badge of honour culture where we were proud of our dirty kit.
“I believe if the current recommendations had been in place when I first joined the service, I am in no doubt that they would have made a difference to me and my colleagues. If we’d known and we’d had these measures, we’d have used them and fewer of us would have got sick.”
