Local Fire Department uses BWC Grant to Improve Safety for Fire Fighters

In January 2017, the NEW OHIO WORKERS COMP LAW SIGNED TO HELP FIRE FIGHTERS WITH CANCER revealed a new law to help Ohio firefighters with cancer to receive workers' compensation benefits.  Then in November 2017, OHIO BWC INITIATES FIREFIGHTER EXPOSURE GRANT PROGRAM discussed grants available to fire departments to improve safety.

This month, Middleburg Heights is joining the list of fire departments utilizing the Ohio BWC grant. Cancer is proven to be a job hazard for firefighters. We applaud the Ohio BWC for providing grants and attempting to reduce the exposure to toxic chemicals in any job environment.

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A recently awarded grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation will enable Middleburg Heights firefighters to protect themselves beyond just the gear they currently wear.

Mayor Gary Starr credited Fire Chief Briant Galgas for pursuing the grant, and announced the award at City Council's May 7 meeting. The money will be used to purchase 34 pairs of structural firefighter gloves, as well as barrier protection hoods.

"This $5,800 grant will help reduce the risk of carcinogens at the Middleburg Heights Fire Department and to firefighters who are actually involved with these chemicals, especially when they become lethal and come in contact with the actual skin," Starr said.

"The hoods cover the entire face and also drape over the neck. The gloves will prevent touching these harmful chemicals to the body that would affect the skin and also cause cancer," he said.

The idea behind the safety grants program for Ohio employers is "to minimize exposure to dangerous environmental elements," the BWC website indicates.