Cancer compo for fireys
DOZENS of firefighters have had their cancer claims approved under the state’s new presumptive rights scheme.
News Corp can reveal 20 metropolitan firefighters and 14 country members — including eight volunteers — have used the new scheme to obtain compensation while their claim is being processed.
The move means many could access vital money for treatments and care that previously could take months or years to obtain.
Since the new law was passed in Victoria in 2019 the total payouts have totalled almost $500,000, with more than half of the claims relating to cases of prostate cancer.
Six cases related to blood cancer, three firefighters had bowel cancer, two had kidney cancers and two had bladder cancer, according to WorkSafe data.
Workplace safety minister Jill Hennessy said 35 people were using the scheme, with more expected to apply.
“Our laws will save lives and we’re providing our dedicated firefighters with the compensation they deserve for dealing with the enormous challenges they face,” she said.
Under the program, career and volunteer firefighters can access presumptive compensation in relation to 12 specific diseases if it was likely they were made ill in the course of their job.
This includes cancer cases that can be linked to the use of PFAS at Victorian fire training facilities.
The scheme’s initial success has been revealed as Victorian fire services continue to deal with ongoing PFAS contamination.
Last month, the MFB reported finding the toxic chemical at multiple fire stations in Melbourne that had previously been cleared.
The latest audit has been ordered after firefighters returned blood tests with elevated levels of PFAS.
More in-depth testing is now being carried out at 47 MFB sites across Melbourne, as well as at least one childcare centre built on a decommissioned site and some surrounding properties.
The CFA has also revealed it is currently looking after hundreds of sites across the state to identify how many may have been contaminated.
“CFA ceased using and withdrew from service AFFF foams containing PFOS and PFOA in 2007, and further ceased using and withdrew a replacement foam that contained some PFAS in 2016,” a CFA spokeswoman said.
“CFA is currently working to understand the extent and risk of PFAS across CFA-owned sites.
“The risk assessment will inform and enable us to quantify how many sites may need to be tested and the associated cost, however we believe that a large percentage of CFA sites are not likely to be affected.”