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More protection for firefighters

Bill 6 adds cancers to occupational illness list

By: Larry Kusch

Posted: 12/8/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image

(From left) Firefighters Sarah Peto, Alex Forrest, Stacey Innes and Laura Graham with colleagues at the legislature.

Manitoba is once again breaking new ground in recognizing occupational diseases affecting firefighters.

In what may be a global first, the province is adding breast cancer to a list of workplace diseases covered under its workers compensation legislation for the folks who fight fires.

Manitoba model

In 2002, Manitoba became the first province in Canada to recognize cancer as an occupational risk of firefighting. Today, six other provinces -- as well as a dozen U.S. states and other countries -- have used the Manitoba model for their own legislation.

On Tuesday, Manitoba introduced legislation extending Workers Compensation Board coverage to firefighters for four new cancers, including breast cancer, a disease that mainly affects women.

More than 200 carcinogens that cause breast cancer are present at fires, making it one of the most susceptible cancers for female firefighters.

Female firefighters have from three to five times the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer as other women.

43 of Winnipeg's 950 active firefighters are women, the highest proportion among major cities in Canada. Edmonton has eight female firefighters.

With increased use of plastics in buildings, more firefighters are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before.

-- Source: United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg and Province of Manitoba

For the 43 women who battle blazes in Winnipeg -- and those in other firefighting services throughout Manitoba -- it's also an affirmation of the contribution of women to the profession.

"I go into lots of fires in the North End and every fire is a potential danger," said Laura Graham, a 16-year veteran of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. "As far as I'm concerned it's a recognition of women."

More than 50 firefighters sat in the visitors' gallery of the legislature Tuesday as Jennifer Howard, minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board, introduced Bill 6. The legislation adds breast cancer and three other cancers -- multiple myeloma, primary site prostate, and skin cancer -- to 10 other illnesses already covered for firefighters by workers compensation in Manitoba.

The additions were especially poignant for Stacey Innes, a 10-year Winnipeg firefighter. "The prostate cancer hits especially close to home for me. My dad was with the fire department in Winnipeg for 32 years and died of prostate cancer," she said. She believes her dad's cancer was work-related.

"Having said that, I did watch him go to work every day. He had a big smile on his face and thoroughly enjoyed every day he went to work. You've got to take the good with the bad," Innes said.

Alex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, praised the government for being proactive by including breast cancer on its list of occupational diseases related to firefighting. "I'm not aware of any jurisdiction in the world that has legislation of this type that's going to protect our sister firefighters," he said.

With relatively few female firefighters -- especially long-serving ones -- there is comparatively little data on how the profession affects women's health. "We have file cabinets full of firefighting studies, but it's all male based," said Forrest, who has travelled across North America speaking about Manitoba's pioneering legislation. He is also Canada's representative on an international union of firefighters based in Washington.

In 2002, Manitoba became the first province to recognize cancer as an occupational risk of firefighting. It means that firefighters with sufficient years on the job will be paid compensation should they contract certain cancers. It also means their families will be looked after if they die of these cancers.

As well as the four cancers to be added in the legislation, Manitoba law covers the following illnesses for firefighters: brain, bladder, kidney, lung, ureter, colorectal, esophageal and testicular cancers, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia.

Ten-year Brandon firefighter Sarah Peto said she is comforted by the fact the law will protect her family should she become ill because of her job.

"For me personally, it's important to have this cancer legislation because I'm a mother and I know that my spouse and my child will be taken care of if I do become susceptible to an occupational cancer, such as breast cancer," she said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 8, 2010 A4

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