My husband was the first UK firefighter to have his death from cancer officially recorded as caused by the job. Now I’m fighting for a legal precedent that could force employers to act, writes Anne Davies
My husband Jeff Simpson was a wonderful man.
He joined the London Fire Brigade in 1983 before we moved to Sheffield in 1992, and was always a proud FBU member. He was a family man, a socialist, and loved being a firefighter. Jeff lived for the varied, busy days and the camaraderie of the watch.
Life was never dull. One memory that sticks out for me is when a young lad fell through the ice at Shadwell docks, and Jeff did everything he could to fish him out. He saved the boy’s life. Like everyone he worked with, he was dedicated to saving others.
When he retired as a watch manager, our family received many messages saying that he was a real gentleman.
JEFF’S STORY
Jeff was active and healthy. He played football into his forties, climbed Munros with the children, cycled with his youngest son. Then in 2018 he was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. This condition is known to be caused by long term exposure to environmental toxins, and is often linked to smoking – but Jeff never smoked.
The disease seemed to be progressing slowly. But two months later, he was admitted to hospital as an emergency. After he’d had an MRI scan, we were told he had lung cancer which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes, and the only treatment was palliative. He died in my arms less than 20 hours later.
You can imagine how shocked I and my children were, how lonely and bereft I felt.
Jeff's death was so unexpected that the coroner launched an inquest into the causes. The pathologist found that he had died of a rare cancer called metastatic small cell carcinoma.
I started researching cancer, and read the papers by Professor Anna Stec, commissioned by the FBU. I learned that, due to preventable exposure to toxic contaminants in smoke, firefighters are more likely to be diagnosed with certain diseases including cancers. Firefighters and their families have similar stories across the UK – and it’s a scandal.
When I was asked to submit any concerns I had around his death, I shared what I had found.
The coroner concluded that Jeff’s death was a result of his occupation. I didn’t realise it at the time, but this was the first time that a firefighter’s death from cancer has been recorded as caused by the job in the UK.
It turned out to be a huge milestone for all firefighters.
SETTING A PRECEDENT
Now I’m working with the FBU and Thompson’s Solicitors to bring a legal case for compensation for Jeff’s death. I’m doing this in his memory, to set a precedent for all firefighters and their families.
Firefighters put themselves on the line for others, and deserve the safety and protection of good PPE, equipment, policies, health monitoring.
Fire service employers and the government must take responsibility, and that’s why we’re taking the fight to the courts.
If we can win for Jeff, we can open the route for better protections for all firefighters in the UK. The end goal is presumptive legislation for UK firefighters, which they have in the USA, Canada, and Australia.
This legislation would mean that certain cancers and diseases would be classified as ‘occupational diseases’: caused by the job. This would make firefighters and their families entitled to compensation and support.
It would also mean that employers come under increased pressure to put more protections against exposure in place.
CALL FOR EVIDENCE
To win this case, we need to gather evidence about working conditions in the past. Specifically, we need to hear from firefighters who served in London between 1983 -1992, and South Yorkshire between 1992 – 2017.
Back then firefighters didn’t know that smoke and soot could cause these illnesses. It was normal to come home in contaminated clothes: stations often didn’t have washing machines or showers, and some still don’t.
CAN YOU HELP?
By gathering witness statements about what conditions were like – policies, PPE, facilities – we can build a picture of firefighters’ preventable exposure to contaminants.
I don’t want any other family to go through what I have been through. And I know that there won’t be any change unless the government and employers are forced to act.
Jeff always fought for what is right, and that motivates me to keep up the fight. Together we can win the change needed to protect firefighters – whether retired, serving or in the future.
If you served as a firefighter in London between 1983 - 1992 or South Yorkshire between 1992-2017 and can share details of working conditions, please email [email protected] with the subject line “witness evidence for cancer case”.
