by Kevin Hague
The Green Party are siding with the firefighters in their bid to have extractors installed at their workplaces.
The DominionPost reported yesterday that the Fire Service was dragging its feet over the installation of diesel fume extractors at fifteen fire stations around the country. The extractors are expensive — $15,000 per unit — and the Fire Service claims there is no proof breathing diesel exhaust from truck engines is harmful. “There was no quantifiable risk for staff from exposure to diesel fumes,” said operations and training director, Paul McGill.
Are the Fire Service taking Public Relations lessons from the tobacco industry? The link between long-term exposure to diesel exhaust and cancer is well proven. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and fine particulates are all contained in diesel fumes and have been linked to respiratory illness, cancer, and premature death.
Motor vehicle pollution is estimated to lead to the premature mortality of 400 people per annum in New Zealand already — the so-called “other” road toll — so why would the Fire Service put our fire fighters at risk?
The Fire Service needs to be taking a precautionary approach to their workers health and safety and clean up the air at their fire stations.
Published in Economy, Work, & Welfare | Health & Wellbeing | THE ISSUES by Kevin Hague on Fri, March 19th, 2010
Tags: diesel, Fire Service, firemen, health risk, particulate, precautionary
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
I’m sure I can find some pretty good fans for $14k. Any takers? They’re a bargain!
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Isn’t that like surrounding a zoo keeper with blood in the tiger pen? :p
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Whenever I drive past and see them standing next to those diesel trucks all day I wonder how much damage it does to their lungs. I’m guessing a lot since even just standing behind a bus can make me cough and sneeze.
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Trevor.
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Billy.
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