TAKING A STAND AGAINST CANCER

Awareness

Cancer is the most dangerous threat to the health and safety of firefighters.  The OCFA is making great strides to lower the controllable risks of firefighter contamination. The 2018 IAFF Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, 271 names were added to the Wall of Honor. Of the 271 names,  211 of those heroes died of occupational cancers. That is nearly 78%!! Boston Fire Departments is reporting that 67% of their firefighters are likely to receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

 In the 1980’s firefighters EMS culture changed almost overnight due to AIDS and Hepatitis. We diligently began wearing protective gloves onscene of every medical call to reduce the risk of an exposure to body fluids so that we had protection from the possibility of contamination. This change occurred because of the fear that the patient may have a contagious disease, and if contact was made with their body fluids, it might get the firefighter very sick. And yet science is very clear that all smoke has many particles that are proven to cause cancer. Cancer has a latency period, which is to say that the contamination from the particles could sit dormant for many years before we will get sick with an occupational cancer. Research shows that 70% of firefighters that get a cancer diagnosis will occur after age 65 years old.

Updates

Action is being taken in nearly every section to reduce the risk of occupational cancers in the OCFA. Executive Management- Have established the leaders intent for making the OCFA employee’s health and safety as the single most important priority. Operations- New policies and procedures for contamination reduction like Respiratory Protection Policy, Personal Contamination Reduction (Decon) policy, and Exhaust Extraction Policy updates. Accounting/Finance- Working diligently with assisting with new Requests for Information for particulate blocking flash hoods that meet the new NFPA 1971 standards, and Budget Requests for additional equipment to reduce exposures. Fleet Services- Has been working with vendors to spec out new emergency vehicle equipment with Clean Cab Concepts in which no tools and equipment that is routinely exposed to the products of combustion is stored in the passenger compartments of new vehicles. Human Resources/Risk Management- Cancer Awareness & Prevention officer works for the Risk Manager and collaborates with WEFIT to create policies and procedures to reduce our risk factors. Investigations- Creating new procedures to reduce the risks for the most exposed individuals in the department that includes increased number of dig out PPE and new guidelines for their respiratory protections. Training & Safety- Creating and including content for firefighter cancer awareness initiatives (including the 2019 Firefighter Safety Stand Down- Cancer Awareness & Prevention). Safety Officers will begin air monitoring onscene of fire incidents to see the increase of size of danger zones at our fire scenes. Service Center- Has tripled the number of extractors to keep up with an increased demand for clean gear. The Service Center has also created safety training and procedures for members who wash PPE and fill SCBA bottles onscene of fire incidents.  OC Professional Firefighters Local 3631 is dedicated to working on many health and safety initiatives for the OCFA firefighter unit including (but not limited to) Cancer Awareness & Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Total Worker Health (Wellness-WEFIT).

Training Videos