Governor Mike Dunleavy recently signed Senate Bill 131 into law. The legislation provides Alaska firefighters with expanded workers’ compensation disability coverage. The bill signing ceremony took place at the Girdwood Fire Department, Station 41, and was attended by bill sponsor Senator Roger Holland and members of the Girdwood Fire Department, Alaska State Firefighters Association, and Alaska Fire Chief Association.
Sen. Roger Holland told the House Finance Committee earlier this year:
“Firefighting is an inherently dangerous job. It’s important that workers comp insurance provides coverage for the inherent risks in that job, but right now, there are holes in that coverage, namely breast cancer and other forms of cancers linked to exposure. This bill, in its original form, would have added breast cancer to the list of presumed disability coverage for firefighters so long as the firefighter could establish medically that the cancer was caused through their work as a firefighter. Several other presumptive illnesses have been added on this side of the house.”
Sen. Holland added:
“Instances of cancer in firefighters are shown to be higher than in the general population. Studies that have evaluated cancer risk among female firefighters suggests women firefighters like their male coworkers may be an elevated risk for overall cancer instance. These studies also suggest female firefighters may be at an elevated instance or risk for breast cancer. This bill protects not only women, because exposure to carcinogenic compounds, which is often sometimes necessary, doesn’t discriminate based on sex or gender. Exposures to these chemicals may be mitigated, but not eliminated through protective equipment and also improved policies in the firefighter industry.”
The legislation recognizes the impact and exposure of harmful, carcinogenic chemicals which firefighters may be exposed to, adding breast cancer to the presumptive cancers covered by workers’ compensation disability. The bill also increases the workers’ compensation permanent partial impairment and death benefit payments.
Holland concluded that this bill is a small way to support those in the firefighter service.
Transcribed audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.