Question reference: S6W-12027
- Date lodged: 9 November 2022
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Current status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 16 November 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is offering to the Fire Brigade's Union's DECON campaign to help firefighters protect themselves and others from harmful contaminants, in light of a reported study from the University of Central Lancashire stating that firefighters are four times more likely to get cancer than the average working person, due to toxic contaminants released during fires.
Answer
The safety and wellbeing of all fire and rescue officers is of upmost importance to the Scottish Government.
As the employer of firefighters in Scotland, the FBU DECON campaign is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. SFRS has been engaged with this research for a number of years and met with Professor Anna Stec of the University of Central Lancashire on 1 November to hear directly of the important research she is doing and to offer SFRS cooperation on that work.
SFRS have a Management of Contaminants Group which has already made significant changes in procedures, equipment and facilities to reduce firefighter contact with equipment which could contain contaminants harmful to health and this important work will continue.