The Columbus Fire Department is going to provide cancer screening to all of its employees through an agreement finalized on Tuesday morning.
Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety members approved a service agreement between the Columbus Fire Department and New York-based United Diagnostic Services LLC where the company will bring a mobile unit to the city and provide cancer screening to all 98 of the department’s employees, including firefighters and civilian staff.
Mike Kutsko, deputy chief of administration, cited several studies that show how firefighters stand at greater risk of developing different types of cancers because of their work.
“One of our many missions with the Columbus Fire Department is to prioritize the best health and well-being for all of our firefighters,” Kutsko said. “These folks go out every day and expose themselves to all kinds of inherent risks, and we realize how important these ladies and gentlemen are to the city and we want to give them the best benefits, the best screenings that we can.”
Kutsko noted that firefighters are, at a minimum, at 20% greater risk of developing cancer. Firefighters are at a 102% greater risk of developing testicular cancer than the average male; 39% greater risk of developing skin cancer; and 22% greater risk of developing brain cancer, Kutsko told board members.
The fire department will pay United Diagnostic Services $335 per employee who chooses to do the screening, which will check for a wide variety of cancers, according to city documents.
The mobile unit will be in Columbus sometime in the spring, in the March to May range. United Diagnostic Services will do the screening for employees once every two to three years, according to Kutsko.
“We want to provide this screening to our firefighters to get it as soon as possible because like with any kind of issue, the sooner you (detect it), the easier it is to (treat),” Kutsko said.
Chief Andy Lay said the screening was brought about through the advocacy of Columbus Professional Firefighters Local 2190, CFD’s union of firefighters.
“It was a big, big thing for them so I commend Local 2190 for bringing this forward,” Lay said.
