Risk Assessment
Department of Health
Minister for Health
Brief for Noting
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Health Protection Unit
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Report on Queensland Fire Fighters' Cancer Incidence Study
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That you note the content of this brief since it provides a clear summary of the research conducted on the cases of cancer in fire fighters working at Atherton Fire Station.
Background summary
A research was conducted in 2008 by Queensland Health in order to investigate the possibility of a cancer cluster at the Atherton Fire Station.
It was reported that five employees had cancer due to which a concern was raised whether the cancer was related to the job.
Queensland represented a group that was formed by Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) in order to conduct a detailed investigation of the issue.
Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health was asked to conduct a detailed study regarding the high incidence of cancer among the fire fighters at Queensland. The report prepared as a result of the study is attached.
Issues
The presence of 5 cases of cancer among the fire fighters between the years 1995 and 2006 raised doubts that there may be a correlation with the nature of the job.
Of the 5 cases, two were related to prostrate and colon cancer while only three were diagnosed to have a similar variation of brain cancer.
The study was conducted on 6964 male and 540 female fire fighters. Of these fire fighters, some were active while others were auxiliary.
The sample studied was too small in order to get an accurate measure. Secondly, the number of cases was also small as it would not give an accurate measure of the results.
The research lacked strong evidence of the presence of anything within the fire stations or the house for fire fighters present near the fire station that could lead to cancer.
It is expected that further studies will be conducted since the report did not find anything that could prove the reason the cases of cancer were particularly high among the fire fighters.
Stakeholders
The study was conducted for the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service since they wished to know the reason for the causes of cancer.
A determination of the cause of cancer would provide a safer work environment for other fire fighters.
Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, Queensland Cancer Registry, and United Firefighters Union since they are the group that was mainly responsible for the report as the issue is directly related to them.
The Queensland government is also a stakeholder because the fire fighters work on behalf of the government.
Financial implications
No financial implications exist as the existence of fire fighters with cancer does not increase the cost of the fire department.
Attachments
Attached is an updated assessment of the risks of cancer faced by fire fighters in Queensland conducted following the study by Monash University.
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Ministry of Health
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