B.C. firefighters want the province to phase out the cancer-causing so-called 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥� found in personal protective gear and foam.
鈥淚 think B.C. has a great opportunity here to lead across the nation,鈥� Todd Schierling, president of the BC Professional Fire Fighters鈥� Association said Thursday (March 14). He said the plan has the support of the national professional firefighters organization, and similar legislation has been adapted in more than 30 states in the United States.
Schierling was speaking to media with members of his 4,500-member organization鈥檚 executive and BC Green House Leader Adam Olsen, who had tabled a private member鈥檚 bill calling for the change that morning.
The bill would phase out polyfluoroalkyl substances found in personal protective gear and foam. Research from the United States has linked PFAS with various types of cancer with manufacturers facing legal actions.
Schierling said these cancer-causing substances can seep out of firefighters鈥� personal protective gears while they are sweating on the job.
鈥淭his is our best protection against fire, smoke, flames,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut we also call it鈥 cancer blanket. It is laced with (these forever chemicals).鈥�
Firefighters can also absorb them through foam, he added.
Schierling said firefighters work in a carcinogenic environment all the time, adding that the International Agency for Cancer Research has deemed firefighting a Group 1 carcinogenic profession, meaning firefighting is carcinogenic. Past classifications had only deemed it possible that firefighters may get cancer.
The bill calls on the provincial government to develop province-wide gear regulations that would include phasing out PFAS.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services has announced that it would be phasing out of PFAS-containing firefighting gear, but Olsen said more needs to be done to avoid a two-tier system where some departments have access to safer equipment.
He sees province-wide regulation coupled with financial support as especially important given the reliance of smaller, rural communities on volunteer departments.
鈥淚n my experience鈥maller services have a much more difficult job in convincing local governments, regional districts, improvements services (to invest) because of just tight budgeting,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o by setting a provincial standard, we are ensuring that whether you are pressed into action in a rural community in British Columbia or in downtown Vancouver, every firefighter gets the same level of protection.鈥�
Brian Catinus, BCPFFA鈥檚 secretary-treasurer, said he hopes the bill will help departments shift toward safer protective gear. Departments must change gears about every 10 years anyway, he said.
鈥淪ome departments, unfortunately exceed those 10 years.鈥�
Phasing out cancer-causing 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥� would also send a larger signal, Olsen said. It would tell would-be volunteers that government is taking their safety and long-term health seriously. I
Private member bills often face a difficult, often futile path toward passage, but Olsen thinks it can become law.
鈥淭his is a good bill,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think when government takes a look at how this bill was drafted and the content in it, I think they will have a hard criticizing it just on its own.鈥�
BC United has also recently called for improvements for mental health supports for firefighters and BCPFFA has had discussions with government around these issues, Schierling said.
Counting all types of firefighters, B.C. has about 12,000 firefighters.
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