For decades, Torkjell Hjelle was exposed to carcinogenic particles in his work as a firefighter and smoke diver. He had no idea of the cancer risk he and the other firefighters were exposed to.
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“Proper handling of the clothing and equipment used on a job can make a huge difference to your health, says Trude Vollheim, Director of the Norwegian Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Routine activities are essential
This winter Norwegian Labor Inspectorate in cooperation with the Oncological Association and the Firefighters Against Cancer organization, it runs a campaign aimed at spreading knowledge about the risk of cancer among firefighters.
– We are involved in an action aimed at drawing attention to the fact that firefighters are more likely to suffer from cancer. This is because they are exposed to toxic and carcinogenic substances at work, says director of the Norwegian Labor Inspectorate, Trude Vollheim.
Vollheim makes it clear that employers, which are municipal fire and cleaning services and inter-municipal companies, are responsible for putting in place procedures and measures to prevent exposure to substances harmful to health.
– They have to make sure that employees have been trained in chemical hazards for health and personal protective equipment, he says.
15 percent higher risk for firefighters
Firefighters have a 15% higher risk of cancer than the general population, or a study from the Cancer Registry shows.
– They are exposed to hazardous fumes and substances in several ways. They inhale dangerous chemicals or dangerous chemicals or Lazarus soot on their skin. Poor routines so far have contributed to exposing firefighters to a higher risk of cancer, says Christine Lager Nesje, head of the Oslo Cancer Association.
At work in a rain suit
Torkjell started out as a firefighter in 1980. He talks about the clothes of that time.
“I got a steel helmet, a raincoat, a shirt and tie, rubber boots, and what I call parade pants. Then you were a fireman. You weren't a smoke diver, but you did firefighting outside, polluted environments, and so on.
A few years later he became a smoke diver. His raincoat was replaced with a woolen jacket and he got a new helmet, but most of the rest of his equipment remained the same.
Did anyone talk about cancer risk, clothing and protective equipment at the time?
- Not at all. Neither in the 80s, nor in the 90s. You have to go back to 2012/2013, only then did someone start talking about the risk of developing cancer. At least so far I haven't heard anything.
Torkjell suffered from several different types of cancer. He was last ill last year and was one of the few firemen in Norway to receive compensation for an accident at work caused by cancer.
“This is probably just the tip of the iceberg. I know dozens of firefighters who should have reported themselves, but many can't handle the pressure.
Today, Torkjell is involved with Firefighters Against Cancer. He himself is far from bitter.
“I can't blame anyone. I can only blame ignorance. I can't blame the employer. I can't blame society either. I can't blame myself either because we didn't know any better.
“The most important thing when you came in at night after a fire was to get some sleep. And then you can take a shower the next day. The dirt hasn't gone away. It was there. We didn't know it was going into the body and building up more and more with substances and things like that.
Inspections across Norway revealed serious deficiencies at stations
After extensive surveillance to prevent exposure to fire smoke in 2016-2018, the Norwegian Labor Inspectorate ordered municipalities and inter-municipal companies across Norway to improve working conditions in fire departments.
This is work that takes time. Some municipalities improved existing facilities and some had to build new ones following our inspections.
These inspections have led to more attention being paid to systematic health and safety work and, in particular, to prevention. The fire chiefs gave us feedback that they were positive about the inspections and that they were helpful. They also believed that the inspections had led the municipalities to prioritize improving the condition of the fire stations.
– Now there are more people who have introduced clean and dirty zones. There are also more people showering and washing dirty clothes at the fire station. It may seem trivial, but these are very important measures to prevent firefighters from being exposed to the toxic and carcinogenic chemicals they are exposed to during a fire, says Trude Vollheim.
“During our inspections, we saw many examples of firefighters having to take clothes home to have them washed, or that clothes were washed in nursing homes or schools. And many, especially in rural areas, went straight home after assignments and showered at home, says Vollheim.
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Source: Norwegian Labor Inspectorate
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