Lifestyle concerns and the Committee’s response
The London Assembly Fire Committee (LAFC) has responded to criticism that references to lifestyle could distract from occupational exposure in its inquiry into fire contaminants.
The comment was provided to the International Fire and Safety Journal (IFSJ) editorial team in response to a query about concerns raised by parts of the sector.
The Committee said: “The Committee has taken a keen interest in firefighter health and wellbeing this Assembly year, both through this investigation into fire contaminants and in January when we questioned guests on the challenges around mental health and wellbeing.
“The fire contaminants investigation was squarely focused on understanding the occupational risks that firefighters face from exposure to fire contaminants.
“Yet, we did hear evidence that lifestyle factors can influence overall health outcomes.
“These factors were mentioned only where relevant to understanding the full context of firefighter health and wellbeing, not as a substitute for occupational risk.
“Occupational exposure to contaminants remains the Committee’s primary concern and the basis for our recommendations, such as establishing nationwide exposure and health monitoring and strengthening PPE and decontamination practices.
“Effective prevention and exposure reduction require addressing both workplace hazards and supporting overall health, but our scrutiny and recommendations are focused on eliminating avoidable occupational exposures as a priority.
“We will continue to emphasise this core focus in follow-up work and engagement with stakeholders.”
Report findings and recommendations on exposure in London
The LAFC report Exposure to fire contaminants in London: A hidden, growing risk? sets out evidence and recommendations linked to firefighters’ exposure to hazardous substances at incidents in London.
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.
Fire Brigade Union commissioned research 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 report concludes that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) Fire Contaminants Policy has shifted attitudes away from the “badge of honour” of dirty kit.
Implementation varies across stations, with limitations in personal protective equipment availability and older station layouts cited as factors.
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.
The report also proposes a pilot of operational exposure monitoring in London, with a time-limited programme for operational firefighters scoped in 2026/27 and launched in 2027/28, developed with academic and occupational health experts.
Further measures include 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.
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 references the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2023 designation of occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic, alongside a call for more UK-specific research.
It also records that London firefighters receive routine medicals every three years, including basic cardiorespiratory checks and an asbestos-specific element.
The report notes that comprehensive cancer screening for firefighters is complex, with mesothelioma and bladder cancer cited as examples where safe, reliable population-level screening tests are not currently in routine NHS use.
The report records that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) considers the existing regulatory framework sufficient to reflect firefighting’s classification as a carcinogenic occupation, citing the Health and Safety at Work Act, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and Workplace Regulations.
Union and academic criticism of lifestyle references
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has criticised a recommendation in the report that refers to “positive lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation, physical fitness, diet, sleep hygiene, and alcohol awareness”.
Steve Wright 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 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?”
The Committee’s response to the lifestyle criticism sits alongside its broader call for exposure monitoring, policy compliance and PPE and decontreve practices to reduce long-term health risks for firefighters.