Australian firefighters have called for more government support after the World Health Organisation officially linked firefighting to cancer.
The United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA) has called on governments around Australia to expand the number of cancers covered by presumptive legislation from 12 to 19.
The presumptive legislation allows eligible firefighters to claim workers' compensation without having to prove that their illness is work related.
The UFUA also called for the introduction of long-term health screening for firefighters, support for firefighter health studies and the approval of therapeutic blood donations so that firefighters can reduce the concentration of dangerous chemicals in their blood.
The calls for support come after the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a body of the World Health Organisation, declared the firefighting profession to be carcinogenic after research proved links between firefighting and cancer.
Volunteer firefighter at Woodhill Fire Station and Advocate for the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ) Ben Heilbroon said Queensland has had good legislation since 2015.
"Firefighters get cancer at a rate of five to six times greater than that of the general population," he said.
"PPE and masks and other protective equipment won't keep all of the carcinogens out and the frequency of exposure is going to increase the odds of cancer."
National Secretary of the UFUA Greg McConville said the WHO's decision had important implications for Australia's governments and fire services.
"The WHO's decision to now classify the profession of firefighting as being 'carcinogenic to humans' represents an undeniable call upon all Australian governments to introduce new measures critical in protecting firefighter health," said Mr McConville.
"That simply means governments must do more to protect firefighters' health."
