A bill to include workers compensation protections for certain types of cancer found in firefighters is headed to the Kentucky Senate. The House approved the measure Wednesday. Chris Bartley represents firefighters in Lexington. He says studies show that firefighters are at a higher risk of cancer affecting the prostate, brain, and colon, among others. "It gives the presumption that this is a job related injury," said Bartley. "So the firefighters that are sick and can concentrate on surviving the cancer rather than doctor's bills and sick leave and taking all their leave and running out of money."
The workers compensation would only be available to firefighters who have worked in the profession for five years and not smoked for 10 years.
Bartley says no state funds are being sought to cover the $2-$3 million annual projected cost. He says it would be covered through existing sources of money including the fire commission fund. "Whenever you're in a fire, your pores expand so greatly that it absorbs all the carcinogens in your body," added Bartley. "So, it's not through breathing or anything like that, it's through absorption."
During committee discussion earlier this week, Western Kentucky Representative Dr. David Watkins raised concerns about the bill. "I don't think that we can say that someone has cancer because he's a fireman, and he's worked around things, just because of that," said Watkins. "I think there's a lot other science that has to be instituted and looked at."
Watkins said although he supports firefighters, he questions whether medical science has proven the cancer connection.
