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Firefighter Cancer
 The
Colorado State Fire Chiefs’ Association (CSFCA)
values the health and safety of firefighters
and strives to reduce the number of
firefighter deaths and injuries. The CSFCA
recognizes that firefighters have distinct
occupational hazards, including exposure to
substances that are known to be
carcinogenic. The following information and
resources are provided to assist our members
in understanding the increased risk of
cancer in firefighters due to the exposure
to carcinogens and the measures that can be
taken to reduce this risk. |
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USFA Urges
Continued Vigilance by Firefighters to Avoid
Exposure to Carcinogens and Other Toxins
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Fire
Administration (USFA) has completed its
review of a recently released study
conducted by the TriData Division of the
System Planning Corporation, analyzing
firefighter presumptive cancer legislation
and attempting to prove or disprove a
correlation between firefighting activities
and the occurrence of cancer. While this
study is considered thoughtful and
well-presented, its results are
scientifically inconclusive, and indicate
that more expansive study is in order.
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IAFC Review Panel Cites Flawed Methodology
in Cancer Presumption Report
The
IAFC has
issued the
findings of an expert
panel convened by the
organization through the IAFC Safety, Health
and Survival Section. The panel found a
recently released report challenging cancer
presumption laws for firefighters used
flawed research methodology that produce
predetermined outcomes.
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Study Fails to Establish Link
Between Cancer and Firefighting
A new study prepared for NLC, “Assessing
State Firefighter Cancer Presumption Laws
and Current Firefighter Cancer Research,”
found there is inadequate scientific
research to determine a link between working
as a firefighter and an elevated risk of
contracting cancer.
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Firefighters Could be at Increased Risk for
Developing Bladder Cancer
May 19, 2008 - A new study
presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting
of the American Urological Association (AUA)
suggests that firefighters may be at an
increased risk of developing transitional
cell carcinoma (TCC, or bladder cancer) and
should be considered for routine annual
screening. Currently, no guidelines exist
for regular TCC screening.
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CSFCA
Firefighter Cancer Survey - Preliminary
Report
On February 1, 2009 the CSFCA posted an
on-line survey is to collect data on the
incidence of firefighter cancer in Colorado
and the disposition of Workers Compensation
Claims.
A total of 21 fire departments reported
having 27 firefighters who have been
diagnosed with cancer. All but one of these
firefighters is male and 67% are career
firefighters. The average number of years
of service prior to cancer diagnosis
reported was 19. The most prevalent type of
cancer reported was cancer of the
genitourinary system (44%).
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Colorado Firefighter Cancer Survey
The purpose of this survey is to collect data on the
incidence of firefighter cancer in Colorado and the
disposition of Workers Compensation Claims. A
secondary purpose is to exchange contact information
(with permission) between fire chiefs dealing with
firefighter cancer issues. No personally
identifying information on firefighters diagnosed
with cancer is being collected.
Click
here to complete
the survey. Please complete a separate survey for
each firefighter diagnosed with cancer, whether or
not the cancer is one of the types covered by
HB07-1008.
If you have any questions concerning this data
collection effort please contact Paul L. Cooke,
CSFCA Executive Director at:
paul@colofirechiefs.org.
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Breast
Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors (BCERF)
Alert for Women Firefighters: Chemical
Exposures in Your Workplace and Breast
Cancer Risk
On-Line Version of the
Brochure
Full Color Alert Brochure
PDF |
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House Bill 07-1008, Concerning Workers'
Compensation Coverage for Firefighters Who
Contract Certain Types of Cancer
HB07-1008
requires that, under the "Workers'
Compensation Act of Colorado", if a
firefighter contracts cancer of the brain,
skin, digestive system, hematological
system, or genitourinary system, the
condition or impairment shall be deemed to
have occurred within the course and scope of
employment unless a physical examination of
such firefighter shows evidence of such
condition or impairment that preexisted
employment. (Governor Signed into law on
05/17/2007) |
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HB07-1008 Fiscal Note |
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