Background

Firefighters often work in environments where there is a potential to be exposed to biological, chemical, physical agents and psychological stresses. These exposures may occur despite taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect firefighters’ health and safety.

Concerns and hazards

Firefighters may experience many such exposures over their careers that could result in an illness or disease. Due to latency periods, illness or disease may occur long after the time of the exposure.

Actions for employers

Employers must train workers regarding the hazards of exposures, and the employer’s procedures for reporting exposures.

Employers should:

  • establish a procedure for recording exposures, whether confirmed or suspected
  • establish a procedure for reviewing incidents that resulted in exposure, to prevent a similar reoccurrence
  • consult with their joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative in the development of these procedures

Exposure report contents

Exposure report should include information regarding:

  • the incident date, time and incident number, plus the details of the exposure
  • personal protective equipment worn or used
  • hazardous agents potentially exposed to
  • additional details regarding how the exposure occurred
  • any situational details regarding psychological stress and trauma which may have occurred

A copy should be provided to the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative.

Prevention of reoccurrence

Where actual exposures have occurred, the Joint Health and Safety Committee or Health and Safety representative should review the exposure reports after incidents, to determine what measures should be taken to prevent a reoccurrence.

Consider the following:

  • updates to current operating procedures or guidelines
  • adequacy of personal protective equipment
  • worker training

Applicable regulations and acts

Read:

Standards

NFPA 1550 Standard for Emergency Responder Health and Safety

This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations, and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Health and safety inspectors apply the law based on the facts in the workplace.