HOUSTON - The Houston Fire Department (HFD) began offering National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 compliant health and cancer screenings in October 2023 free of charge, to all uniformed members of the department.
The medical exam is an industry standard across the county. As outlined by NFPA 1582, the NFPA compliant program is specifically tailored to health risks associated with firefighting and will allow for the early detection of heart disease and cancer, ultimately leading to an increased chance of survival.
This program originates from Fire Chief Sam Peña’s, health and safety initiative. The health and safety of Houston firefighters is of utmost importance and has been a strategic focus of the administration for the last seven years. Significant investments have been made to provide personnel with fundamental components to prioritize firefighter health and wellness. The medical and cancer screenings under the current contract were made possible through the acquisition of FEMA’s 2021 Assistance to Firefighter Grant.
Through the implementation of this program, HFD strives to:
• Encourage firefighter wellness and participation through a non-punitive, free, occupational medical and physical exam with certified review by healthcare providers.
• Leverage various organizational resources to identify treatment and rehabilitative services for member wellness.
• Serve as a pilot project to aid in establishing this benefit as an annual departmental program.
To date, nearly 1,750 HFD members have registered for the free occupational medical exam, with nearly 400 exams completed. This participation represents a promising start to this member health and wellness program.
A special thanks to the HFD command and support staff for their diligent work on this initiative.