Lifestyle references criticised by the Fire Brigades Union
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has responded to the London Assembly Fire Committee report Exposure to fire contaminants in London: A hidden, growing risk?.
In its statement, the FBU said the report includes a recommendation referring to “positive lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation, physical fitness, diet, sleep hygiene, and alcohol awareness”.
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “Firefighters are dying younger and living with life-altering cancers and chronic illness.
“These are preventable occupational deaths, and this is a national scandal.
“The UK is decades behind other countries on this issue, and this report underlines the urgent need for basic, long-overdue measures: stronger prevention measures, regular health monitoring for all firefighters, and re-evaluation of compensation for firefighters’ occupational diseases.
“However, firefighters will rightly find the references to ‘lifestyle’ offensive.
“Firefighters are not getting sick because of personal choices – they are getting sick because they are being systematically exposed to toxic substances in the course of their work.
“When so many other countries and international bodies are doing the right thing and recognising the risks firefighters face, it is time for our own government to stop ignoring the evidence and act.”
Anna Stec, Professor of Fire Chemistry and Toxicity at the University of Lancashire, said: “While the report makes positive recommendations on the need for a UK-wide rollout of harmonised contamination exposure tracking and health monitoring for firefighters, the argument that firefighter cancers and diseases could be reduced through lifestyle changes is fallacious.
“Lifestyle factors influence health outcomes in any population, but they do not explain the elevated rates of cancer and disease seen in firefighters.
“Why should firefighters be expected to adopt such changes in order to compensate for the toxic environments they are routinely exposed to at work?”
Report findings and recommendations highlighted in the statement
The FBU statement also set out points from the London Assembly Fire Committee report, including its warning that firefighters in London may be routinely exposed to hazardous substances released during fires.
The findings identify asbestos, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants among contaminants present at incidents.
The Committee notes that definitive UK evidence on cancer causation is still emerging.
Research presented to the Committee shows higher cancer incidence and abnormal tumour markers among firefighters compared with the general population.
The FBU said research it commissioned found that 4% of firefighters surveyed, around 1 in 25, reported a cancer diagnosis in a self-reported sample of more than 11,000 personnel.
Prevalence was highest among those aged 35 to 39, around three times the rate seen in the general population.
Between 10% and 15% of respondents were recorded as having abnormal tumour markers, compared with a control group drawn from the public.
The Committee concludes that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) Fire Contaminants Policy has shifted attitudes away from the “badge of honour” of dirty kit.
Implementation varies widely across stations, partly because of limitations in personal protective equipment availability and older station layouts.
The Committee urges the Government and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to reduce firefighters’ exposure to fire contaminants.
Recommendations include creating a UK-wide exposure and health monitoring programme for firefighters.
A pilot of operational exposure monitoring in London is also proposed.
Further measures call for stronger training, assurance and compliance with fire contaminants policies, improved PPE supply and procurement planning, and greater emphasis on health promotion within occupational health services.
The Committee also asks the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) to review evidence on cancer risks linked to firefighting.
Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee Zack Polanski AM said: “Fires don’t end when the flames are out as toxic contaminants can remain long afterward.
“Firefighters accept risk as part of the job, but exposure to toxic chemicals should not be an unavoidable consequence of protecting the public.
“While London Fire Brigade has made real progress, this report shows more needs to be done to understand and reduce the long-term health risks firefighters face.”
The report links decontamination practices, station design and long-term health monitoring as related areas for further action.