P.A. firefighters switch to chemical free turnout gear

PAFD replaces all turnout gear on a six-year rotation schedule, so the plan is to get more suits next year and the following year until they are all replaced.

North American statistics show that cancer caused 66 per cent of deaths in the line of duty between 2002 and 2019 and firefighters are nine per cent more likely to get cancer than the general population. They are also at 14 per cent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population, according to research from the CDC and National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.

Modern building materials mean firefighters are exposed to more chemicals than they ever were in the past.

“Building materials, construction has significantly changed in the past 40 years with the common use of glues and other synthetic materials deviating from the more natural occurring products,” said Ken Hunter, president of IFF Local 510 in Prince Albert.

“Houses burn faster with a quicker heat release rate than ever before, and with that comes more danger to firefighters. Cancer is quickly becoming the number one risk to all firefighters, not only from the fires we routinely deal with, but from the gear that was meant to protect us from those situations.”

PFAS have been used in turnout gear for years to make it water resistant and to protect firefighters from moisture that causes burns and steam burns. Those ‘forever chemicals’ are so named because they do not deteriorate and may never leave a person’s body once they find their way in.

“They are linked to cancers and other serious health effects that are changing the lives of firefighters everywhere,” said Hunter.

Recent studies show that the chemicals can leak from the gear into the firefighter’s body. The PAFD is one of the first departments anywhere to try turnout gear that does not include the chemicals.

The first eight sets have been issued already.

“While we realize there’s a significant cost of this endeavour, the health and safety of our community and our membership is paramount. Therefore, every effort should be made to achieve this goal as soon as possible,” he said.

The initial cost to buy the first eight sets was relatively cheap but they have already been warned by the manufacturer that prices will be going up significantly.

‘These turnouts are very expensive and we have to work within our budgets and that will be a challenge,” said Olsen. “However, we are committed to following NFPA 1971 for a six-year replacement of each set of turnover gear. That’s when they age out.”

Olsen explained that the department, like many others, already does what it can to reduce the chemical exposure. Gear is decontaminated on site rather than bringing exposed suits back to the station and firefighters are routinely tested for early signs of cancer.

WCB has recognized the risk to firefighter safety already, said Olsen and some Prince Albert firefighters have lost their lives to cancer.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

P.A. firefighters switch to chemical free turnout gear

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