Australian firefighters have led the way in researching and preventing exposure to PFAS, known as forever chemicals, in firefighter foams. Firefighter reports
“Never tell a firefighter they can’t achieve something”. These words, uttered by Michael Tisbury of the United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA), go a long way in explaining the decade long campaign waged against PFAS chemicals by Australian firefighters – and their world leading breakthroughs.
This May, the FBU invited Tisbury to London along with David Hamilton, president of the UFUA’s Victoria branch, to share their story with firefighters and politicians.
In their determination to uncover a hidden scandal, coming up against corporations and governments across the globe, their union has created a blueprint in the state of Victoria.
WHAT IS PFAS?
PFAS refers to a group of 5,000 chemicals, and stands for “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances”.
PFAS chemicals have been used in firefighting foam and firefighter PPE for decades. Known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their persistence, they build up – and don’t break down – in the environment and the human body.
Exposure to high levels of PFAS has been found to be linked to health issues including weakened immune systems, reproductive issues, thyroid diseases and certain cancers.
While manufacturers of firefighter foam have been aware of the dangers of PFAS since the 1970s, the health impact of exposure to these chemicals is only just coming to light.
Many firefighters will have memories of using foam over the course of decades, at incidents and as part of regular training. It is not uncommon to have waded through rooms filled with foam. This is alarming – but we now know that the extent and impact of this exposure can be tested, monitored, treated and prevented.
WHAT THEY DISCOVERED
Banning and regulating foams that contain PFAS is a priority for Tisbury and Hamilton, in Australia and far beyond. In the state of Victoria they now test every drum of foam the service buys, having found that even ‘PFAS free’ foams were failing safety tests, and advocate for fluorine free foams as a safer alternative.
PFAS contamination spreads, and it does not go away without action. In Victoria, they have found that appliances and stations become contaminated with foam residue. Without adequate decontamination over three days of cleaning at 70 degrees C, the chemicals remain crystallised inside hoses and pollute water passing through them.
They also found that the land around fire stations had become contaminated. To stop this from endangering local residents, they have pioneered a process of ‘locking’ PFAS into the soil in these zones.
SOLUTIONS
Working with Macquarie University, firefighters have participated in ground-breaking research into forever chemicals in their blood, finding ways of significantly reducing these levels through blood donations. Those with a lower levels donate blood to people in urgent need through the Red Cross, while firefighters with higher, dangerous levels undergo ‘therapeutic’ donations which are then safely destroyed.
To aid in the early detection and treatment of illnesses, they have funded and rolled out free cancer testing for firefighters alongside PFAS monitoring across the state of Victoria. A letter is now sent to all firefighters acknowledging the occupational exposure to PFAS, with set thresholds for safe levels of exposure.
And Australia now has presumptive legislation for firefighters who are diagnosed with one of 15 types of cancer, going up to 21 types in some states. Through this they can access support and compensation;, though as Tisbury says: “as good as presumptive legislation is, you never want to use it. It’s a worst-case scenario”.
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
This spring, FBU general secretary Steve Wright and acting vice president Adam Taylor sat alongside Tisbury and Hamilton at the UN’s Stockholm convention, making the case for banning PFAS chemicals worldwide.
From January 2026, the production and use of PFCAs will be banned for all countries party to the Stockholm convention. While this is a positive step forwards, it only includes around 200 compounds of thousands. There is much more to be done at an international level.
ON THE FIREGROUND
One of the key lessons from UFUA Victoria is that union members can take a leading role in pushing for action on PFAS. Addressing a room of FBU health and safety reps, Hamilton urged all firefighters to “educate, educate, educate. When you see bad practice call it out. Say we can do this better.”
The DECON principles apply: keep kit clean and prevent contamination after incidents to protect yourself and fellow workers.
NEXT STEPS
The FBU’s ongoing work with the University of Central Lancashire has included testing firefighters’ blood samples for PFAS levels, and the results are expected later this year.
Australian firefighters have paved the way – it’s time to follow in their footsteps.
