Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

ResearchCancerHealth surveillanceOccupational HealthOHW+

Occupational cancer study launched among Tyne & Wear firefighters

by Ashleigh Webber 23 Feb 2023
by Ashleigh Webber 23 Feb 2023 The Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service is testing firefighters for occupational cancer
Image: heardinlondon / Shutterstock.com
The Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service is testing firefighters for occupational cancer
Image: heardinlondon / Shutterstock.com

Firefighters in Tyne & Wear are participating in a study that will determine how many have occupational cancers and other diseases resulting from exposure to toxic contaminants in fire.

Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), and the University of Central Lancashire has asked firefighters to provide blood and urine samples for analysis by leading experts in fire chemistry and toxicology.

It is the first study of its kind in the UK and aims to determine what changes need to be made to make firefighting a safer profession.

A recent survey of more than 10,000 firefighters across the UK found that 4.1% had been diagnosed with cancer, and cancer cases among firefighters aged 35-39 were up to 323% higher than in the general population in the same age category. It also found they were more likely to die from heart attacks, stroke and other diseases.

Firefighters and cancer

Firefighters at heightened risk of cancers and mental ill health

OH can make ‘monumental difference’ to cancer support

Last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organization (WHO) body, declared that firefighting is a carcinogenic occupation, and put individuals at higher risk of developing mesothelioma, melanoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cancers of the bladder, colon, prostate, and testis.

Riccardo la Torre, national officer for the FBU, said that health monitoring should be rolled out in fire services across the UK to make it a safer profession.

“Tyne and Wear is setting a positive example for how fire services can assist in making real steps forward to save firefighters’ lives from occupational cancer and diseases,” he said.

Anna Stec, professor in fire chemistry and toxicity at the University of Central Lancashire, said: “It is vital that firefighters can continue to do their jobs as safely as possible, and the research shows that measures such as health monitoring and reducing exposure from contaminants at the workplace will play an important part in protecting firefighters.”

Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service has incorporated Stec’s advice around reducing exposure to contaminants into its working practices, by investing in “clean cab technology” and particulate monitoring in its vehicles, as well as a decontamination locker to store dirty PPE and equipment.

Welfare decontamination packs have been introduced in the station for firefighters returning from difficult incidents.

Deputy chief fire officer Peter Heath said: “This is a huge step forward in the continuous drive towards improving firefighter safety and I’m proud of our firefighters for volunteering to take part in this vital research into the potential effects of contaminants.”

The university has developed a UK Firefighters Cancer and Disease Registry to collect information from firefighters across the UK that will help with its research.

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor of OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
‘Relationship registers’ floated for academics and students
next post
Phone repair company calls for apprenticeship

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Black women most likely to experience multiple, chronic...

27 Mar 2023

Progress on eliminating tuberculosis in England has ‘stalled’

27 Mar 2023

Impact of menopause often overlooked when evaluating suicide...

24 Mar 2023

Study: tool encourages workers to self-manage back pain

24 Mar 2023

One in five find everyday sounds intolerable

23 Mar 2023

CPD: Work and health fundamentals for early careers...

21 Mar 2023

CPD activities: Work and health fundamentals for early...

21 Mar 2023

OH urged to be vigilant as norovirus cases...

20 Mar 2023

Better employee sleep could save UK plc £34bn...

20 Mar 2023

Ending of pandemic restrictions led to sharp rise...

20 Mar 2023

  • Neurodiversity: How to make the workplace more inclusive (webinar) WEBINAR | Can your organisation truly be inclusive...Read more
  • How HR can facilitate internal talent mobility PROMOTED | Should internal talent mobility be a priority...Read more
  • Bereavement in the workplace: How training can help HR get it right PROMOTED | HR professionals play an essential role...Read more
  • UK workforce mental wellbeing needs PROMOTED | The mental wellbeing support employers are providing misses the mark...Read more
  • The Workplace Today Guide: Why it pays to support your staff’s financial health PROMOTED | The cost of living crisis has hit...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today