Who is Maintaining the Maintainers?

By Andy Biron

For the past decade, the U.S. Fire Service has seen documented cases of cancer and suicide directly related to the job. Are emergency vehicle technicians (EVTs) included, and do they have data to track this?

In this article I will talk about how to maintain the EVT. It’s no secret that EVTs have and continue to be exposed to known cancer-causing agents. Some are specific to the vehicles we take care of, like brakes, fuel, and the agents we use to clean and work on them. Others are what the firefighters use, like foam, dirty cabs, and equipment. These are some of the ways EVTs are exposed to carcinogens.

What can the EVT do to combat exposure to cancer-causing agents? First there’s personal protective equipment (PPE). Items like an air-purifying respirator (APR), or cartridge-style respirator will help. With the correct filter an APR can scrub out particles and limit inhalation exposure. Keep in mind that the end user is highly recommended to have a mask fit test to ensure the correct size and fit.

Another way to combat exposure is hand and clothing PPE. As simple as it sounds this is one that the EVT should really pay attention to. Have you noticed that the grime on your hands and under your fingernails lasts for days? That grime has the potential to expose you and others to contaminants that may be cancer-causing. Wearing gloves and hand scrubbing, not washing, will limit these long-duration exposures.

Be sure to change your work clothes before you leave the job site. Why bring all this potential exposure into your personal car, and expose your friends and family to it weeks and days later? 

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Now let’s talk about the body. For the past three years, I have been going to a licensed massage therapist (LMT). I reserve 90-minute sessions where the LMT works on areas that we discuss. These sessions have been a game-changer for my body. Let’s face it, we contort and put our bodies in some areas that make us feel awful days and weeks later. Having someone to work on these muscle groups and bring them back in line makes a world of difference. 

Along with the muscle group is the skeletal system. These groups go hand in hand and if one is out of order, the other suffers. Now it’s the chiropractor’s turn to work on the EVT. Think of the skeletal system as the foundation the muscles rely on. If the foundation is not right everything else will suffer and there will be issues.

Lastly, I want to talk about the mind. Even though EVTs might not be directly involved in daily incidents of trauma, they can be affected by these events. If the apparatus fails and loss of life occurs, the EVT may second guess his actions and ability. 

Let’s face it sometimes the repairs don’t go well, and the pressure to get these rigs back in service falls on the EVTs. These are just some of the workplace pressures they may encounter, and they need an outlet to deal with them. First and foremost, EVTs need to know they are not alone. They must be provided with information about employee assistance programs (EAPs) and other agencies. In addition to EAPs, EVTs can and should explore outside groups that they can talk to about issues. They need to know that help is just a phone call away.

  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call 988
  • National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service: Call 1-877-448-7848
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For the past decade the U.S. Fire Service has seen documented cases of cancer and suicide directly related to the job. Are emergency vehicle technicians (EVTs) included, and do they have data to track this?

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