Contaminants and firefighter health and safety: important new research
Fire contaminants linked to significant physical and mental health issues among UK firefighters
Firefighters confirmed to be substantially more likely to get cancer Firefighters almost three times more likely to suffer with depression and twice as likely to have anxiety Research supports ruling from the World Health Organisation body, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which...
Firefighters far more likely to die from cancer and heart attacks than public
Research commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) finds firefighters significantly more likely to die from cancer, heart attack, stroke and several other diseases FBU calls for thorough health monitoring from fire toxins exposures and financial and medical support for those affected The...
DECON - one year on
The FBU's vital DECON campaign to better protect firefighters against toxic contaminants and prevent cancer has brought a wave of change across the fire and rescue service. FBU national officer Riccardo la Torre looks at what has been achieved one year on from the campaign launch. Before the Fire...
Union reports fire brigades to Health and Safety Executive
The Fire Brigades Union has formally reported two fire and rescue services to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and identified several others, in relation to bringing in policy which would see firefighters sent into fires with their breathing equipment turned off, in a letter first published...
World Health Organisation agency declares firefighting to be carcinogenic
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organisation body, has today declared that occupational exposure as a firefighter has been classified as carcinogenic. The decision comes against a background of research around the world proving that there are links between...
Firefighters from across Europe discuss DECON
FBU work on cancer in firefighters was the focus of a Europe-wide meeting of firefighters and their representatives. Riccardo la Torre, FBU national officer, attended the meeting. He said: “DECON is here to stay in the UK fire and rescue service, and now firefighters from across Europe are keen to...
