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6 March 2026
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Northern Canadian fire service achieves 75% drop in high-risk cancer profiles through wellness initiative
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Data from firefighters’ shifts and health signals shows how unions and the City are reducing high-risk cancer profiles and future costs through a targeted wellness programme. A new firefighter health report shows that Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services is currently managing between 18 and 25 presumptive cancer claims, with total legacy and ongoing costs estimated at approximately $5 million dollars to date. Provincially, the median age of a presumptive cancer claim is 62, underscoring the long-term impact of firefighter exposures and operational stress over a career.
Developed in partnership between Sault Ste Marie Professional Firefighters Association (SSMPFFA), the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Rep Health, the report analyses real world data from firefighter shift patterns, recovery and readiness, body composition, mood, nutrition and self-reported symptoms. It establishes an evidence-based model that other Canadian fire services can use to quantify cancer risk, workforce health and cost exposure, and to act earlier to prevent avoidable harm.
“This is more than just a wellness programme; it is a risk management investment in our staff,” said Peter Johnson, Fire Chief at Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services. “Moving firefighters out of the high-risk category represents a healthier workforce, delivering measurable cost savings for our city and, most importantly, protecting lives in our fire halls.”
The report uses Rep Health’s Overall Risk Score (ORS), a combined indicator that tracks multiple health and workload factors, to show how operational choices and recovery patterns influence long term health risk. By tracking these signals over time, the programme helps flag elevated risk earlier, allowing the employer and union to intervene before issues become injuries, illnesses or presumptive cancer claims. Since the programme began, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services has seen a 75% reduction in the number of firefighters classified in the high-risk cancer group among participating members, based on ORS trends and related health indicators.
At an average estimated cost of approximately $192,000 per presumptive cancer claim, including historical costs, even modest reductions in risk exposure represent significant potential savings for municipalities, alongside improved health outcomes for firefighters.
“This data gives us a clearer picture of what firefighters are carrying, both physically and mentally,” said Aidan Wright, firefighter with SSMPFFA and head of the union’s wellness team. “Rep Health has changed how our members think about daily readiness. By consistently tracking injuries, nutrition and body composition, the programme has brought a level of awareness that is already driving meaningful change.”
“In just the initial phase, we’ve gone from 4% to 1%, a 75% reduction in our high-risk cancer group and a meaningful increase in members moving into the low-risk category,” Wright added. “Those shifts reflect not only the strength of the programme but the dedication of our firefighters. The data we’ve gathered is eye-opening, revealing the true physical demands and long-term impacts of firefighting but it is also reassuring to see that with the right tools and focused effort, our members can actively reduce those risks and improve their health.”
In addition to cancer risk, the programme also targets non occupational absence reduction. Over a four-year average, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services recorded approximately 4,492 hours of non-occupational absence per year, at an average annual cost of $243,415. The programme’s short-term goal is a 10% reduction, equivalent to approximately 449 hours and an estimated cost avoidance of $24,415. Medium term targets aim for a 20 to 25% reduction, representing up to 1,123 hours and as much as $60,853 in avoided costs annually.
With the support from Senior Fire Management, Rep Health partnered with SSMPFFA to produce a detailed internal union report. This union-facing analysis dives deeper into:
These findings equip union leaders with concrete, numbers driven evidence to support safer scheduling, improved recovery practices, and stronger health protections at the bargaining table.
Data from the municipality shows:
Why this matters for fire services across Canada:
“This report shows what is possible when unions and municipalities work together using real data,” said Callen McGibbon, Founder of Rep Health. “By identifying risk earlier and acting on it, cities can protect firefighters, reduce avoidable absences, and meaningfully limit future financial exposure.”
Source: Rep Health
Developed in partnership between Sault Ste Marie Professional Firefighters Association (SSMPFFA), the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Rep Health, the report analyses real world data from firefighter shift patterns, recovery and readiness, body composition, mood, nutrition and self-reported symptoms. It establishes an evidence-based model that other Canadian fire services can use to quantify cancer risk, workforce health and cost exposure, and to act earlier to prevent avoidable harm.
“This is more than just a wellness programme; it is a risk management investment in our staff,” said Peter Johnson, Fire Chief at Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services. “Moving firefighters out of the high-risk category represents a healthier workforce, delivering measurable cost savings for our city and, most importantly, protecting lives in our fire halls.”
The report uses Rep Health’s Overall Risk Score (ORS), a combined indicator that tracks multiple health and workload factors, to show how operational choices and recovery patterns influence long term health risk. By tracking these signals over time, the programme helps flag elevated risk earlier, allowing the employer and union to intervene before issues become injuries, illnesses or presumptive cancer claims. Since the programme began, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services has seen a 75% reduction in the number of firefighters classified in the high-risk cancer group among participating members, based on ORS trends and related health indicators.
At an average estimated cost of approximately $192,000 per presumptive cancer claim, including historical costs, even modest reductions in risk exposure represent significant potential savings for municipalities, alongside improved health outcomes for firefighters.
“This data gives us a clearer picture of what firefighters are carrying, both physically and mentally,” said Aidan Wright, firefighter with SSMPFFA and head of the union’s wellness team. “Rep Health has changed how our members think about daily readiness. By consistently tracking injuries, nutrition and body composition, the programme has brought a level of awareness that is already driving meaningful change.”
“In just the initial phase, we’ve gone from 4% to 1%, a 75% reduction in our high-risk cancer group and a meaningful increase in members moving into the low-risk category,” Wright added. “Those shifts reflect not only the strength of the programme but the dedication of our firefighters. The data we’ve gathered is eye-opening, revealing the true physical demands and long-term impacts of firefighting but it is also reassuring to see that with the right tools and focused effort, our members can actively reduce those risks and improve their health.”
In addition to cancer risk, the programme also targets non occupational absence reduction. Over a four-year average, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services recorded approximately 4,492 hours of non-occupational absence per year, at an average annual cost of $243,415. The programme’s short-term goal is a 10% reduction, equivalent to approximately 449 hours and an estimated cost avoidance of $24,415. Medium term targets aim for a 20 to 25% reduction, representing up to 1,123 hours and as much as $60,853 in avoided costs annually.
With the support from Senior Fire Management, Rep Health partnered with SSMPFFA to produce a detailed internal union report. This union-facing analysis dives deeper into:
- Short-change versus long-change shift patterns and their impact on readiness and recovery
- Mood trends and self-reported stress across different schedules
- Protein intake versus lean mass, muscle soreness, and reported injuries
- ORS and other readiness indicators that help identify elevated risk earlier
These findings equip union leaders with concrete, numbers driven evidence to support safer scheduling, improved recovery practices, and stronger health protections at the bargaining table.
Data from the municipality shows:
- Between 18 and 25 presumptive cancer claims within Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services
- Total cancer-related costs, which include historical and legacy claims, are estimated at approximately $5 million dollars to date
- An average presumptive claim cost of approximately $192,000
- Clear links between shift patterns, recovery, readiness scores and long term risk
- Measurable opportunities to reduce both health risk and absenteeism related costs
- Early results showing fewer high risk members and more low risk members within the department
Why this matters for fire services across Canada:
- Municipalities across Canada face similar exposure patterns, aging workforces, and rising presumptive cancer claims.
- The Rep Health approach can be applied to any fire service that wants to link real shift data and readiness scores to health and cost outcomes.
- By using ORS and related metrics, departments can move from reacting to claims to proactively managing risk and protecting members.
“This report shows what is possible when unions and municipalities work together using real data,” said Callen McGibbon, Founder of Rep Health. “By identifying risk earlier and acting on it, cities can protect firefighters, reduce avoidable absences, and meaningfully limit future financial exposure.”
Source: Rep Health