Fire Kit & Cancer

[bill.advanced]

Thanks for the sticky Wally

[wally]

This is on FBU website (2016)
https://www.fbu.org.uk/contaminants-guidance

Contaminants Protection against Cancer guide
https://www.fbu.org.uk/download/file/fid/3370

[Bernie]

Don't agree Bernie

Cancers don't wait until you retire before they strike

Lost a few friends in the job over the years to different cancers and now we have reports like this who knows what actually caused the cancer.

Also the report warns of the dangers of dirty PPE and found "Dangerously high levels of harmful chemicals" remain on their protective gear following exposure to smoke along with " firefighters were more likely to absorb cancerous gases through their skin rather than inhaling them"

Yes this report affects those no longer in the job but also current serving firefighters who I am sure will now look at steps to ensure fire kit is kept as clean as possible and the possible dangers of transporting fire kit in their own vehicles etc.

So I think this is very much a current issue Bernie and it is in the right place.

I did mean in here as well as the retirede for section.

[Bernie]

To be clearer, it should also be in the retired for section.

[wally]

To be clearer, it should also be in the retired for section.

A closed post has now been created on the retired members forum with a link to here to keep the info together and easier to follow.

[Tam62]

With regards to latest media coverage of this cancer risk, isnt it time we prioritised money on upgrading all stations before we spend it on new ventures?
In our city centre multi pump station, some fire gear hangs up around the appliance but half of the pegs are in a common area where pole drops and firecat is...an area where members of the public, cubs,brownie visits etc are and generally where any visitor to the station has to walk through,
They all likely to brush against or be in close proximity ti contaminated fire gear.
Yes , in ideal world fire gear is all laundered or wiped and tucked away in a nice hanging bag after every fire but realistically that doesn't happen. There has been money invested on IT and office upgrades to facilitate other departments and a fortune spent on an engine room floor which has quite frankly been a bit of a disaster.
We have,for years, saying fire gear should be in a seperate room from away from the public, away from appliances with exhaust fumes etc.
The answer us usually "there is no spare room suitable and no money to build one"

[Nightstaffer]

To be clear on this
Thus is not a central government issue
I agree with Tam as above

It’s the responsibility of the Fire Authority
Who are in overarching control of the CFO and the service and what money gets spent on

In practice the tail wags the dog
The CFO ‘ advises’ the Fire Authority
Who are often local councillors with little or no knowledge of the fire service and accept whatever the CFO tells them

It would do no harm st all to email members of your local Fire Authority and let them know that they are likely to face claims in the future
But in the meantime ask them to state what they intend to do about the outcome of this learned research in terms of keeping fire kit clean and reducing this proven link to the raised risk of firefighters developing cancer

It’s easy just google
“ write to them “ and the details of your local MP and Councillor will appear and a straightforward template

Let’s all do that
All is not well with the UK FIRE SERVICE as we all know but local Councillors need to be informed and also taken to task

[Bernie]

There is an issue here for the families of people who have passed away because of one of these cancers. These are industrial diseases in Canada. Another one for the FBU

[Tornado]

I remember a thread
On here about refusing
To carry fire service kit
In car boots for detached duties

Contaminates both visible
And hidden were discussed

[Bernie]

I know 2 lads who have died from brain cancer.