8 Mar 2019

Firefighters want blood tested for toxic chemicals

From Morning Report, 7:13 am on 8 March 2019
A firefighter on scene at an incident. 6 July 2016.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Firefighters want their blood, as well as all training sites, urgently tested for toxic chemicals from firefighting foam. The union is accusing Fire and Emergency of not doing enough to investigate or monitor staff health. The Professional Firefighters Union says FENZ is not testing enough sites for toxic PFAS chemicals, and is taking too long to get started. Joanne Watson is the Secretary of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union and speaks to Guyon Espiner.