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Raising awareness of firefighter safety and cancer risks: A personal journey and call to action - By John Lord
By John Lord, managing director, SimTrainer UK and founder of the Invisible Risk Foundation
Iam honoured to write this article in support of Lee Raath-Browne and the fire and rescue community, with the aim of fostering a broader understanding of the global risks to firefighter safety, particularly in relation to cancer awareness among responders.
My name is John Lord and I am the managing director of SimTrainer UK, a specialist training company focused on incident command.
It was established following my retirement from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in 2011, after a career spanning 32 years, starting in 1979 with Lancashire County fire brigade as it was known then.
I served in a variety of operational roles throughout my tenure, ultimately retiring as the lead for incident command in the training department. This brings my total service to the fire and rescue community through ops and training to nearly 46 years.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with 62 airport fire services across the UK, the Crown Dependencies and internationally, including in Dubai, the Seychelles and Gibraltar. Additionally, we have provided training services to five major oil refineries, onboard our tutor team we now have an associate tutor with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
This extensive background has provided me with a deep understanding of response and specialist operations.
Why I began the journey into cancer awareness
The impetus for my involvement in cancer awareness and the current campaign is deeply personal. Both my wife and I are cancer survivors and our experiences with the disease have cast a long shadow over our lives for the past 13 years.
We remain positive and grateful for the opportunity to continue our lives and it is this gratitude that fuels my passion to help others. There is no political agenda, nor any intention to sell products; simply a desire to assist those who may be struggling to understand the risks or cope with a cancer diagnosis.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a disease that is both underappreciated and widely misunderstood, particularly as it pertains to male firefighters. In addition to this, I have endured ongoing pain from five benign tumours in my left thumb, which continue to affect me daily and will in the end need further treatment, in total 10 surgeries in the last 10 years.
The genesis of the seminars
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I organised several webinars for the UK’s Rescue Firefighting Service (RFFS) community to facilitate communication during lockdown. One of these sessions focused on the risks of contamination, with esteemed guests such as Abby Hannah, Jo Taylor of De Wipe and Dr Dave Megson from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Through my research, I became aware of the important work being done by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), particularly through Professor Anna Stec. However, I also recognised that retired firefighters, as well as those in aviation and industrial sectors, were not being adequately included in these discussions, despite their exposure to the same hazards.
I was concerned that the true extent of the problem was being under-reported and the picture was not entirely accurate.
With the support of my friend and advocate Alisdair Couper, managing director of Terberg DTS, we realised the need to scale up our efforts. This led to the first conference at Cranfield University in November 2022, where the 'Invisible Risk' was brought to light for the first time.
One of the most poignant moments of that conference was when retired fire officer Martin Green, a true champion in the fight against firefighter cancer, spoke about his personal journey. Sadly, Martin passed away in 2024 but his contributions to this cause will never be forgotten.
This year’s Manchester conference, in March 2024, which was a resounding success, was attended by over 140 organisations and 235 delegates, making it the largest event of its kind. Once again, Professor Anna Stec was a keynote speaker, alongside Dr Emily Watkins, both of whom continue to lead in the fields of toxicology and firefighter health.
I am deeply grateful for the generosity, financial support and passion of Alisdair Couper, without whom these events would not have been possible.
A change in practice
The impact of our efforts has been tangible. UK airport fire services have made significant strides in tackling contaminants, with leading institutions such as Biggin Hill Airport and Leonardo Helicopters setting an example.
In local authority circles Surrey FRS and Hampshire Isle of Wight FRS have done great work and all airports have made notable improvements in ensuring the safety and well-being of their staff.
When we began this journey, only three sites were routinely screening staff for prostate cancer from the age of 40. Today, that number has risen to twelve, with some sites also screening female colleagues for breast cancer, aligning with practices in the United States.
Unfortunately, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has yet to fully recognise the enhanced risks faced by responders, which remains a significant barrier to further progress.
Some argue against screening, citing concerns about false positives. However, it is important to note that a PSA test is merely a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
The full diagnostic process involves much more, as I know from personal experience. Early detection, both for prostate cancer and other forms of cancer, can save lives and reduce costs by enabling quicker returns to work and offering better mental health support for employees during treatment.
The need for global collaboration
My concern, however, is that large organisations continue to work in silos, failing to collaborate effectively across sectors. While the aviation industry has been proactive in sharing best practices, industrial and local authority fire and rescue services remain largely disconnected. It is crucial that we bridge this gap, so that all responders, regardless of their sector, have the same level of awareness and understanding.
Through organisations like JOIFF and other key bodies, I am seeing a commitment now thus ensuring that responders on high-hazard sites are as well-informed as their counterparts in aviation and local authority fire services.
The invitation to collaborate is open to all and we are eager to share knowledge through seminars, conferences and virtual talks worldwide.
A measure of success
On a deeply personal level, I take great pride in the fact that I have been able to offer counsel to eight fire officers across the UK, whose cancer diagnoses were detected and treated following our seminars and discussions. Their gratitude for the support I provided reaffirms the value of our work. This is the motivation that drives me: to save the lives of my fellow responders.
The changes we have witnessed in operational practices, with a focus on safer working environments and greater awareness, are truly heartening. These efforts help to ensure that not only are staff kept safer, but their families are also better protected.
Our work continues to gain traction internationally, with colleagues in the United States and Scandinavia sharing valuable insights and experiences in the fight against firefighter cancer, but we have no room for complacency, the job is not done.
To that end, credit to my own champions alongside Alisdair Couper people who have made huge contributions on awareness Robbie Burns, a serving Firefighter, cancer survivor, Andy Slater PGI Safety, Jo Taylor De Wipe, not forgetting the esteemed academics doing so much already mentioned.
A wish list for the future
Looking ahead, my wish is to see an end to silo working and a greater spirit of collaboration across the globe. This is not about scoring points or seeking individual accolades but about working together to protect all agencies, regardless of their size or scope.
We must do more to protect our female colleagues, gather better data on the specific risks they face and ensure that retired firefighters and responders receive better support when diagnosed with cancer.
Screening needs to become universally adopted, allowing us to identify health issues early and take action that saves lives and reduces costs.
In the UK, many are working hard to ensure the NHS to implement SNOMED codes that specifically cover firefighters and others exposed to occupational toxins. This process should be adopted worldwide to ensure that those who protect us are properly protected in turn.
Furthermore, we must acknowledge that a cancer diagnosis is not just an individual issue; it is a family issue. The mental health challenges associated with a diagnosis must not be overlooked and it is crucial that we offer comprehensive support to families as well as to the responders themselves.
Finally, the message must reach all emergency responders such as police, medical staff and others because cancer respects no uniform, no role and no location.
For me personally, the next step is to establish the Invisible Risk Foundation, which will continue to raise awareness, train champions in firefighter safety and provide support to those facing a cancer diagnosis.
Together, we can make a difference. Through collaboration, awareness and proactive action, we can reduce the risks faced by firefighters and responders worldwide. The fight is far from over but with the support of all involved, we can continue to protect those who risk their lives to protect others, anywhere in the world needs to be the aim.
