(AGENPARL) – ven 10 marzo 2023 [Manitoba Media Notice]
March 10, 2023
Legislative Amendments would Ensure Wildfire Firefighters Benefit from Firefighter Cancer, Heart Injury Presumption
Bill 25, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act (wildfire firefighters), is being introduced to ensure wildfire firefighters benefit from cancer and heart injury presumption that applies to other Manitoba firefighters under the Workers Compensation Act, Labour and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes announced today.
“Wildfire firefighters work diligently in extreme, hazardous conditions to protect the environment and public health and safety, and their occupational demands are ever increasing as climate change causes wildfire seasons to become longer and more severe,” said Reyes. “This bill recognizes that the hazards of wildfires are on a similar scale to those experienced in urban firefighting and ensures wildfire fighters benefit from the same presumption as other firefighters.”
When firefighters contract certain types of primary cancers or heart injuries, the firefighter presumption makes it easier to establish that their cancer or injury is related to work. Currently, the presumption does not apply to wildfire firefighters.
Under the current act, if firefighters or Office of the Fire Commissioner personnel are diagnosed with one of 19 designated cancers or suffer a heart injury within 24 hours of responding to an emergency, the act presumes this to be a work-related illness or injury. By adding a definition of ‘wildfire firefighter’ to the firefighter presumption, it would apply equally to all firefighters.
The minister noted wildfire firefighters, like urban firefighters, are exposed to varying levels of smoke with the potential for exposure to carcinogens. In addition, like other types of firefighters, wildfire firefighters are exposed to similar stresses of heavy muscular work, extreme temperatures, sympathetic nervous system activation and exposure to smoke, and are therefore at a similar risk for suffering a heart injury. As such, they should receive the same treatment as other firefighters in Manitoba, noted Reyes.
“While these changes will more effectively address the risks posed to wildfire firefighters, prevention and risk mitigation remain a central focus of Manitoba’s occupational safety and health framework,” said Reyes.
For more information on workplace safety and health in Manitoba, visit: [https://manitoba.ca/labour](https://www.manitoba.ca/labour/).
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For more information:
– Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
– Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-451-7109.