May 6, 2011
Proposed Amendments Include Office of the Fire Commissioner Personnel: Howard
Individuals from the Office of the Fire Commissioner who investigate fires or those who train firefighters and fire investigators would be included in the firefighter presumptions under proposed legislation introduced yesterday by Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard.
“Like firefighters, personnel who work for the Office of the Fire Commissioner are exposed to dangerous, health-threatening and life-threatening conditions,” Howard said. “This legislation would recognize this threat by extending the firefighter cancer and heart-injury presumptions to them and their families.”
As a result of amendments to the Workers Compensation Act, 14 cancers are presumed to be work‑related injuries for full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters. These include multiple myeloma, primary site prostate, skin, breast, brain, kidney, lung, ureter, colorectal, esophageal and testicular cancers, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia.
In addition, heart injuries within 24 hours of an emergency response are presumed to be work-related injuries.
In 2002, Manitoba became the first jurisdiction in Canada to have a firefighter presumption.
LEGISLATION WOULD EXTEND CANCER, HEART INJURY PRESUMPTIONS
– – –Proposed Amendments Include Office of the Fire Commissioner Personnel: Howard
“Like firefighters, personnel who work for the Office of the Fire Commissioner are exposed to dangerous, health-threatening and life-threatening conditions,” Howard said. “This legislation would recognize this threat by extending the firefighter cancer and heart-injury presumptions to them and their families.”
As a result of amendments to the Workers Compensation Act, 14 cancers are presumed to be work‑related injuries for full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters. These include multiple myeloma, primary site prostate, skin, breast, brain, kidney, lung, ureter, colorectal, esophageal and testicular cancers, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia.
In addition, heart injuries within 24 hours of an emergency response are presumed to be work-related injuries.
In 2002, Manitoba became the first jurisdiction in Canada to have a firefighter presumption.
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