// Cancer Awareness and Prevention in the Fire Service

Firefighter

What should I know before reading about this occupation? This profile summarizes the common issues and duties for firefighters.

What should I know before reading about this occupation?

requirement This profile summarizes the common issues and duties for firefighters. Firefighters may be called to any number of settings or workplaces. It is impossible to predict all of the possible hazards a firefighter may encounter. The demands of fire fighting can be sporadic and unpredictable with intermittent periods of intense physical and psychological stress. This summary focuses on the major job duties of primarily structural firefighters. For more information specific to wildland firefighters, please see the OSH Answers Wildland Firefighter.

What, briefly, does a firefighter do?

Main duties of a firefighter include: Specialized teams may be organized to respond to emergencies involving specific hazardous products or situations.

What are some health and safety hazards associated with being a firefighter?

Fires can also create dangerous situations, such as:

biological While helping individuals, there is possible exposure to contagious and infectious diseases, including blood-borne diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis B and C.
general fine particulate matter
general carbon monoxide
chemical carbon dioxide
general nitrogen oxides
general sulfur oxides
general volatile organic compounds
general formaldehyde
chemical Exposure to various combustion products. The toxicity of smoke depends greatly on the fuel (the materials or chemicals being burnt), the fire's heat, and the amount of available oxygen for combustion. Common combustion products include:
general Oxygen depletion - Hypoxia (the condition caused by little or no oxygen in the air) can result in a loss of physical performance, confusion, and inability to escape.
chemical Exposure to other chemicals, products, pharmaceuticals, and medicines, including opioids.
chemical Working with compressed gases (e.g., self-contained breathing apparatus).
ergonomic overexertion (reaching, carrying, etc.) and other risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders
general walking or standing for long periods of time
ergonomic lifting
ergonomic Situations where physical demands involve very strenuous work, force, repetition, awkward postures and prolonged activities, often under extreme conditions, including:
general Wearing heavy equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and personal protective equipment, which may require more effort to perform the same tasks.
physical Heat stress.
physical Excessive noise levels.
physical Ultraviolet radiation.
physical Extreme temperatures (both cold and heat).
general Unpredictable working conditions.
general The danger of driving at high speeds, often in difficult traffic or weather conditions.
safety When responding to a fire emergency, there are many situations (e.g., the fire itself, structures breaking, unstable floors, and falling objects) where there is a risk of injury.
general Sudden ignition of products creating flashover.
general Backdraft, where air is introduced to an area that is superheated and oxygen-starved.
general Working on ladders.
safety Falls from heights.
safety Slips, trips and falls.
safety Risk of injury from the various locations where the fire department may be called to, such as explosions, unstable structures and surfaces, or falling objects; or working at heights or near traffic, water, confined spaces, large crowds, violent situations, etc.
general Working with chainsaws or similar equipment.
psychosocial Exposure to serious traumatic events (or consequences of the event) resulting in stress or post-traumatic stress disorder.
general Work shifts or extended work days.
psychosocial Fatigue.
psychosocial Workplace violence or harassment, and harassment from the public.

Are there any long-term health effects of being a firefighter?

Yes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has evaluated the carcinogenicity of occupational exposure of a firefighter as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) based on sufficient evidence for cancer in humans. IARC concluded that there was: Firefighters may be exposed to many carcinogens, including: For more information, please see the tip sheet, Occupational Cancer Awareness and Prevention in the Fire Service. Firefighters also develop:

general sufficient evidence for the following cancer types: mesothelioma and bladder cancer.
general limited evidence for the following cancer types: colon cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, melanoma of the skin, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
chemical Building materials such as asbestos.
chemical Chemical flame retardants.
general Combustion products such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
general Crystalline silica.
general Diesel engine exhaust.
chemical Heavy metals such as cadmium and lead.
general Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in foams and bunker gear.
general Benzene.
general back injuries and other strains.
general diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis.
chemical cardiovascular disease due to a multitude of toxic substances when fighting a fire. For example, carbon monoxide exposure is directly linked with cardiac toxicity.

What are some general safe work practices to know?

Firefighters will need to know: All workers should:

administrative the correct routine practices and procedures to prevent blood-borne pathogen infection. (e.g., AIDS, hepatitis B and C).
requirement hand washing and routine practices.
ppe proper selection, use, maintenance and storage of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as footwear, where appropriate.
requirement prevention of needlestick injuries.
requirement manual material handling (lifting) techniques.
requirement information about shiftwork.
requirement how to work alone (general information) and working alone with patients.
requirement working safely on ladders.
requirement how to work safely with compressed gases.
requirement how to perform gross decontamination of bunker gear.
requirement how to properly launder and dry bunker gear.
requirement proper sun protection by wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
requirement follow company safety rules.
requirement know about WHMIS and SDSs.
administrative know your hazard reporting procedures.
administrative follow good housekeeping procedures.

What should be included in an emergency preparedness and response plan for firefighters?

Emergency response plans help prepare for unforeseen situations that may occur during a response, such as explosions, injuries, medical emergencies, and other crisis situations. For firefighter organizations, an emergency response plan may include: The plan should be tailored to your organization, the unique challenges of a remote environment, and changing fire conditions.

context Procedures for alerting workers in case of an emergency.
context Rescue protocols for injured or trapped workers.
context Worker evacuation procedures and designated assembly locations.
context Contact information for key personnel.
context First aid and medical assistance.
context Measures for preventing workplace violence.
context Worker training and drills.