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Protect Yourself: Best Practices for Reducing Firefighter Carcinogen Exposure in British Columbia
Key Exposure Points
- On-Scene Exposure
- Post-Fire Contamination
- Station Contamination
Exposure Reduction Strategies
- Control exposure risks according the heirarchy of controls:
- Eliminate exposures – Public education programs (increased sprinkler use/smoke alarms), fuel reduction efforts to prevent exterior fires leading to structure fires (interface controls)
- Substitution – Training fuel selection, use of simulated smoke and flame, replacing PFAA in foams and turnout gear, replacing diesel apparatus with electric or hybrid apparatus
- Engineering – Fire station design, diesel exhaust capture, training prop design
- Administrative – Use of specific fire attach tactics, PPE donning and doffing practices, PPE decontamination, PPE retirement/removal, crew rotation, enhanced cleaning practices for apparatus, stations
- PPE – Consistent use of respiratory protection during all phases of response, tightening interfaces of turnout gear, use of particle-blocking hoods, PFAS free gear
- Follow best practices related to onscene Gross Decontamination (aka preliminary exposure reduction)
How Firefighters Can Reduce Their Risk of Cancer
There are many ways fire departments can increase cancer prevention efforts. They include:
Decontaminating gear at the scene of the fire.
Removing and washing soiled uniforms.
Showering as soon as possible after a fire exposures.
Documenting any exposures.
Using self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) through all phases of response where there is a potential exposure.
Washing personal protective equipment (PPE) in gear extractors (if available).
Storing firefighting gear in a dedicated room.
Best Practice Resources
Firehouse Supplement Article: Turnout Gear & Equipment Cleaning
Firefighter Carcinogen Exposure Reduction Presentation (July 2023)
Report of the CAFC Cancer Committee on Health Canada Sponsored Workshops – April 2024
