By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
The province has announced that firefighters will now have easier access to workers’ compensation benefits in recognition of their higher risk of developing work-related cancers.
“Firefighters are there for us when we are at our most vulnerable, and we need to be there for them when they need us,” said Premier John Horgan.
A firefighter’s job places them at risk of exposure to toxic materials, and that is why the province is amending the Firefighters’ Occupational
Disease Regulation (under the Workers Compensation Act) by adding two cancers – pancreatic and thyroid – to the existing list of cancers and heart diseases that firefighters are at increased risk of developing.
Osoyoos Fire Rescue Chief Corey Kortmeyer said the expanded coverage is good news for everyone affected.
“It’s a long time coming,” he said, noting it will impact a lot of people who are potentially exposed to cancer causing materials during firefighting.
However, he did note there are still challenges. For example, he said companies are still using cancer-causing materials in fire gear.
In Oliver, Fire Chief Bob Graham said he was quite happy about the expanded coverage, noting the Fire Chiefs of BC have been advocating for this to happen.
Graham said hopefully the Oliver Fire Department will not be impacted by any of this (cancer on the job).
The chief was asked about the concern regarding cancer-causing agents used in fire gear. Graham said he believes this has been “overblown.” He said legislators in California have raised this concern, but personally, he isn’t losing sleep over it.
Graham said he would rather take a small chance with exposure than not have the protection of turnout gear in a fire.
Harry Bains, Minister of Labour, said despite the safety equipment, firefighters are still exposed to dangerous substances from burning materials.
“Over time, exposure can lead to serious, sometimes deadly, illnesses where prompt treatment is critical.”
If a firefighter develops one of the listed cancers after a certain period of employment, it is presumed that the cancer arose from their employment. The firefighter will then be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits without having to prove the cancer is work-related.
“Recognizing the health challenges that firefighters face is extremely important to our membership as they put their lives on the line every day in communities across this province,” said Gord Ditchburn, president, BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.
For the occupational disease presumptions to apply, a firefighter must have worked the minimum amount of time specified in the regulation for each cancer.
The province has recognized occupational diseases for firefighters since 2005.
Additional types of occupational diseases for firefighters have since been added to the act and regulation. Cervical, ovarian and penile cancers were recently added to the regulation in April 2022. In total, BC recognizes 18 cancers as occupational diseases for firefighters.
