Protecting Communities, Risking Health

by Michael Passero

Throughout my 31 years with the New London Fire Department, I saw numerous brother firefighters diagnosed with cancer. For all of them, it was a death sentence.

Treatments have improved over the years, and fortunately, members of my department are now surviving the disease but live with the diagnosis hanging over their heads. This legislation (Senate Bill 937) will provide needed support to those firefighters and their families.

I am proud of our fire department in New London for the proactive measures that have been taken to protect our firefighters. This includes venting systems for apparatus exhaust, washing machines that extract hazardous chemicals for firefighting gear, training and awareness programs and common-sense measures like keeping firefighting gear out of bunkhouses and station living areas.

While we work to prevent exposures that threaten the health of our firefighters, we must also take care of those who fall ill from a known occupational disease while they are protecting their communities.

“Connecticut is one of only two states without presumptive cancer legislation for firefighters.”

As you have no doubt learned, Connecticut is one of only two states without presumptive cancer legislation for firefighters. You should also have become aware of the study conducted by the International Association of Firefighters from 2001-2018 that found that 65% of firefighter deaths were due to occupational cancer.

Moreover, this past July, the International Agency of Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization, has classified the occupational exposure of firefighters as a Group 1 carcinogen. In short, the scientific evidence that cancer is an occupational disease of firefighting is overwhelming.

It is imperative that the General Assembly pass this presumption legislation to ease the burden on our firefighters under the Workers Compensation Act.  I am honored to testify today on behalf of this legislation in the place of the many brother firefighters whom I served with who had their lives cut short by this hideous disease.

Michael Passero is Mayor of the City of New London.  This testimony was provided to the State Legislature earlier this year.  The legislation, Senate Bill 937, was approved 52-0 on May 1 by the legislature’s Appropriations Committee and is currently awaiting action by the State Senate.