Health and safety but pretty much health and cancer the topic of a presentation delivered to all three stations of Strathroy-Caradoc Fire hosted by station 2 Tuesday night and the presentation delivered by 25-year firefighter in London Chris Bruinink who lives in Mount Brydges. He was diagnosed in December of 2020 with stage 4 colon cancer and now its spreading into the abdomen area, with several surgeries already in the past and another one coming up in August. The origin of the cancer, believed to be attributed to a fire call years ago. His message is clear, that cancer in firefighting is legit.
Eight weeks ago, the province and the PC government added two more presumptive cancers to the current list for firefighters in Ontario totalling about 20 cancers that can affect firefighters meaning volunteer or full time firefighters are covered unless WSIB finds a reason they shouldn’t be, and Cancer is now the number one killer of firefighters. Deputy Fire Chief Joop Devoest says the message was scary but clear.
Bruinink says the local fire department can implement some changes right away as the fire master plan continues to hopefully move forward.
Deputy Chief Devoest says these recommendations can get them started.
When asked about the recent silent demonstration by firefighters at a recent council, Bruinink says council needs to be held accountable under the Health and Safety Act as employers.
He says it is the duty of the employer being the municipality under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure the health and safety of it’s employees and firefighters are employees under the act. Bruinink says he has had discussions with MPP Monte McNaughton regarding expanding the section of the Occupational Health and Safety act to require employers of firefighters to do medical testing.
written by: C. Soares
