Cutting out potential cancer-causing gear seems a simple decision on the surface B次元官网网址� reality sees firefighters work closely with potentially harmful chemicals in both the foam they fight fires with and the gear that protects them from the flames.

Creating policy prohibiting the harmful equipment is a logical starting point for MLA Adam Olsen, who filed a memberB次元官网网址檚 bill on the subject.

The target is to get rid of personal protection equipment including pants, gloves and jackets as well as firefighting foam known to contain polyfluoroalkyl substances B次元官网网址� commonly called PFAS or B次元官网网址渇orever chemicals.B次元官网网址� PFAS is a category of manufactured chemicals previously linked to cancer and other diseases.

If enacted, the bill would require employers to provide PFAS-free fire suppression foam and prohibit foam containing PFAS, by Dec. 31, 2025. It would also require transition to PFAS-free personal protective equipment by Jan. 1, 2029.

Olsen picked up the cause pitched by the BC Professional Fire FightersB次元官网网址� Association and tabled the bill on March 14.

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In Sidney, which lies in OlsenB次元官网网址檚 constituency of Saanich North and the Islands, the fire department works from a community safety building completed in 2019. As early as the design phase, fire chief Brett Mikkelsen sought specific requirements, looking for expedient workflow to get crews to the trucks quickly while maintaining no cross-contamination. For example, all the B次元官网网址渄irty areasB次元官网网址� such as the turnout gear room and garage are on separate airflow from clean areas such as the kitchen, dorm and gym.

The goal was to avoid known toxins encountered during active fires as materials burn, as well as exhaust from the vehicles in the hall. TheyB次元官网网址檝e also known about the B次元官网网址渇orever chemicalsB次元官网网址� existing in firefighting foam for a while, the chief said.

B次元官网网址淚n Sidney our plan is to obviously, once we run out of existing stock, weB次元官网网址檒l start procuring the new non-PFAS product,B次元官网网址� Mikkelsen said.

A more recent revelation, is that turnout gear contains PFAS B次元官网网址� in fact itB次元官网网址檚 a potentially life- and limb-saving element that creates flame resistance.

The plan there is to replace the gear with something PFAS-free B次元官网网址� as it becomes accessible.

In the interim, best practices are in place, including only wearing gear when necessary, ensuring appropriate decontamination and isolating dirty turnout areas from clean.

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B次元官网网址淓very set of turnout gear has a 10-year shelf life whether itB次元官网网址檚 used 100 times or one time, at 10 years it has to be replaced,B次元官网网址� Mikkelsen said. That provides a natural replacement timeline for non-PFAS gear, if the supply is available. Even if a department could find the huge cash layout needed to replace all turnout gear in short-order, it can be hard find.

B次元官网网址淯ntil the last couple weeks there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a single manufacturer who has been able to provide a certified PFAS-free product on the market,B次元官网网址� said Oak Bay Fire Chief Frank McDonald.

That department also works to ensure good decontamination habits and limits wearing affected gear to as-required.

While itB次元官网网址檚 not cut and dried, Olsen hopes if the province creates policy it will create demand and result in more PFAS-free personal safety equipment becoming available as technology constantly adjusts.

B次元官网网址淭his is a transition, to be expected. When fire departments and fire chiefs set their budgets and their finances, theyB次元官网网址檙e constantly upgrading gear. As that gear comes up B次元官网网址� we want to make sure the provincial standards will require them to upgrade into the standard gear,B次元官网网址� Olsen said. B次元官网网址淎s they design new gear that is PFAS-free those fire departments can start to implement them.B次元官网网址�

The goal is not to point fingers, but to work proactively as well as create a level playing field from Vancouver to small volunteer-run departments, Olsen said.

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He envisions a reality where volunteer gear might go in the trunk of a car, connecting with kids hockey or ball gear, extending exposure beyond the firefighter. The province would need to financially support such a transition, he said.

The bill for Olsen is not only a starting point to provide a healthier work environment for firefighters in the province, already facing higher cancer probability, but to highlight other areas B次元官网网址渇orever chemicalsB次元官网网址� are present.

B次元官网网址淭his is an important issue for firefighters but itB次元官网网址檚 an important issue more broadly in our society,B次元官网网址� Olsen said, noting PFAS are incorporated in many everyday items such as menstrual products and sports gear.

B次元官网网址淚t did open the door for me for just how prevalent these chemicals are in many, many products and product types.B次元官网网址�

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