The efforts of Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) to ban harmful chemicals from global fire and rescue services have won it an Industry Leader Award at the 2022 Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer at FRV, Mick Tisbury said the Service received the top gong in the Healthy and Fair Society category for its ground-breaking advocacy work towards a global ban on the use of harmful per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals in fire and rescue services.
Assistant CFO Tisbury said FRV was also offering innovative solutions that protected firefighters, community members and the environment from the chemicals.
“PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used in industrial and consumer products which have long been associated with negative health outcomes, however this new trial confirms that while work will continue to ensure sources of contamination are eliminated, it is possible to reduce PFAS levels in those with high levels of exposure, such as firefighters,” Assistant CFO Tisbury said.
“In 2019, FRV initiated a world-first clinical trial to examine the impacts of blood and plasma donation on PFAS levels in firefighters’ blood,” he said.
“The study found a 10 per cent decrease in PFAS levels after blood donation and a 30 per cent reduction following plasma donations.”
Assistant CFO Tisbury, who developed the initial idea for the study, said the research was just one of a suite of initiatives led by FRV to reduce the harmful impacts of the chemicals on firefighters and the community.
He said other initiatives included establishing safe PFAS threshold limits for firefighters and the decontamination of fire stations, appliances and other firefighting equipment.
Fire Rescue Commissioner Ken Block said the Award was a testament to FRV’s commitment to improving the health of firefighters and reduce PFAS contamination within the community and environment.
The full list of Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2022 finalists can be accessed at this PS News link.
