Manitoba has added five additional cancers to the list of presumptive cancers pertaining to firefighters and at-risk staff in the Manitoba Fire Commissioners Office. These additions will be part of amendments being made to the Workers Compensation Act.
“We recognize firefighters are at a heightened risk of contracting various cancers due to the nature of their work and the inevitable exposure to carcinogens on the job, despite all efforts to prevent and mitigate exposure risks,” said Premier Heather Stefanson.
Currently, there are 14 types of cancer on the presumptive list. The five additions to the list are primary site thyroid cancer; primary site pancreatic cancer; primary ovarian cancer; primary site cervical cancer; and primary site penile cancer.
“These additions to the firefighters presumptive cancer list will make Manitoba’s legislation one of the strongest in the world and our legislation will be a template for proper WCB support for firefighters around the world being diagnosed with occupational cancers they received due to the exposures they encountered while simply doing their job,” said Alex Forrest, president, Manitoba Professional Firefighters Association.
The Workers Compensation Board will be responsible for administering the changes to the act.
© News4.ca 2021
