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Firefighter occupational disease coverage
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WCB policy provides conditions for the presumption of an occupational disease in firefighters, specifically for firefighter cancer and cardiac injury.
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If you are, or have been, a firefighter and have been diagnosed with cancer, the cancer may be presumed to be an occupational disease and you may be eligible for benefits from the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB).
Presumptions apply to most firefighters
The disease will be presumed to be an occupational disease predominantly caused by the firefighter’s service or employment if the full-time, part-time or volunteer firefighter:
- Suffers from a disease listed below.
- Is currently serving or is employed with, or has served or has been employed with, a fire department for a specified minimum period as outlined in The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985 (Regulations).
- Is or has been exposed to the hazards of a fire scene, other than a forest fire, during their service or employment as a firefighter.
Firefighter presumptive coverage expanded
Firefighter presumptive coverage of occupational diseases has been expanded in 2024 to include an additional six occupational types of cancer that were not previously covered. The additions were made possible through amendments to The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act). That brings the total number of cancers covered to 22. Coverage now includes:
- primary site penile cancer
- primary site pancreatic cancer
- primary site thyroid cancer
- primary site soft tissue sarcoma
- primary site mesothelioma
- primary site laryngeal cancer
The coverage applies to new injury claims submitted to the WCB. A firefighter with a previously denied claim in relation to one of these types of cancer can ask the WCB to reconsider that decision. The WCB will proactively review previously denied claims, however firefighters or their dependants can also contact the WCB directly to re-evaluate a previous decision.
Previous diseases presumed to be an occupational disease
These diseases are also presumed to be an occupational disease and compensable, unless the contrary is proven:
- brain cancer
- bladder cancer
- kidney cancer
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- leukemia
- ureter cancer
- colorectal cancer
- lung cancer
- testicular cancer
- esophageal cancer
- an injury to the heart that manifests within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response scene
Volunteer firefighters
Volunteer firefighters have access to the same presumptive coverage as full-time urban firefighters. The presumptions also apply to part-time firefighters of an urban municipality. These presumptions apply to firefighters who are, or have been, exposed to the hazards of a fire scene, other than a forest fire.
Previously denied claims
The new presumptions apply to previously submitted claims and to any new claims with injury dates prior to the legislative amendments.
Firefighters with WCB claims can request a re-evaluation of a previous decision. The request will be considered by the WCB team responsible for the most recent decision.
As with all reported injuries and diseases, WCB staff will obtain all relevant information to determine if the injury or disease arose out of, and in the course of, employment. Staff will determine entitlement based on the information. WCB staff will determine entitlement based on information gathered, including whether the presumptive cancer meets the minimum period of service or employment as outlined in the Regulations.
Minimum period of service or employment
Section 22.3 of The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985 (the General Regulations) provides the minimum period of employment required before a firefighter may be presumed to have an occupational disease. The WCB will consider the minimum period of service for volunteer firefighters.
The “cumulative” period of service for volunteer firefighters or period of employment for full-time and part-time firefighters will be considered. This includes all of an individual’s history as a firefighter whether their periods of service or employment were consecutive or not.
The minimum period of service or employment between first exposure and diagnosis of the primary-site cancer is:
|
Years of service |
Cancer |
|
5 |
leukemia |
|
10 |
brain, primary-site breast, primary-site cervical, primary-site ovarian, primary site pancreatic, primary site thyroid, testicular |
|
15 |
bladder, colorectal, lung (non-smoking firefighters), multiple myeloma, primary-site prostate, primary site laryngeal cancer, primary site mesothelioma, primary site penile, primary-site skin, primary site soft tissue sarcoma, ureter |
|
20 |
kidney, primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
|
25 |
esophageal |
For more information, see our:
- Firefighter presumptions fact sheet
- Firefighter occupational disease coverage – what you need to know brochure
Frequently asked questions
Accordion content
A: Section 22.3 of the WCB’s General Regulations provides the minimum periods of employment required (between exposure and diagnosis) before a firefighter may be presumed to have an occupational disease. The minimum interval of uninterrupted employment between first exposure and diagnosis of the primary-site cancer is listed in the above table.
In the case of primary-site lung cancer, a firefighter with a history of smoking will be excluded from the presumption unless the firefighter was a non-smoker prior to the date of the injury for the minimum period listed in the General Regulations.
This information is clarified in the WCB’s Policy and Procedure Manual.
For more information, see our:
A: For primary-site lung cancer to be presumed to be an occupational disease, the firefighter must have been a non-smoker for a minimum period before the diagnosis.
|
Average consumption |
Period of non-smoking |
|
Fewer than 7 cigarettes a week |
6 years |
|
1 to 9 cigarettes a day |
6 years |
|
10 to 19 cigarettes a day |
13 years |
|
20 cigarettes a day |
18 years |
|
21 to 39 cigarettes a day |
23 years |
|
40 or more cigarettes a day |
28 years |
|
1 or more cigars and/or pipes a day |
8 years |
If the minimum non-smoking period has not been met, the presumptions will not apply and the disease will be considered under the WCB’s Policy and Procedure Manual.
There will be no minimum period of non-smoking if a firefighter has smoked in their lifetime:
- fewer than 365 cigarettes, cigars and/or pipes
- fewer than seven cigars or pipes a week, on average
If a firefighter smoked cigarettes in combination with cigars and/or pipes, the minimum period will be determined in accordance with the above table. One cigar or pipe will be considered as one cigarette.
Where smoking is a factor in an accepted work-related lung cancer claim, cost relief may be provided to the employer under WCB policy.
For more information, see our:
A: The Regulations have been updated to include these minimum periods of service or employment:
- 15 years for a primary site penile cancer.
- 10 years for a primary site pancreatic cancer.
- 10 years for a primary site thyroid cancer.
- 15 years for a primary site soft tissue sarcoma.
- 15 years for a primary site mesothelioma.
- 15 years for a primary site laryngeal cancer.
A: Saskatchewan’s volunteer firefighters have access to the same presumptive coverage as their professional counterparts. The presumption does not apply to forest firefighters.
A: If a claim for a listed presumptive cancer does not meet the minimum interval of uninterrupted employment (see above), it will be reviewed on its own merit and justice. A claim may be accepted if the gathered medical information confirms a causal relationship between the listed presumptive cancer and the workplace.
A: Yes, a firefighter with a previously denied claim in relation to one of these types of cancer can ask the WCB to reconsider that decision. The request to reconsider a previous claim will be considered by the WCB team responsible for the most recent decision.
The WCB will also be proactively reviewing previously denied claims to determine if they would be an acceptable work injury under the new legislation.
A: If a firefighter previously submitted a claim for one of the cancers and was denied under former legislation, they can request a reconsideration of the original decision. Their claim will be considered by the WCB department responsible for the most recent decision.
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