The researchers and project staff have signed confidentiality agreements with the Ministry of Health Services and with each of the participating municipalities approving conditions related to security and confidentiality, and the prohibition of any subsequent use of the health data and the firefighter data respectively. Our research protocol is consistent with data linkages routinely undertaken by the Center for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR) for research purposes and in accordance with Ministry policies to ensure confidentiality and to comply with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act legislation (BC Ministry of Health, 1996).

The project protocol (with the exception of the Personal and Environmental Sampling, see below) was approved by the UBC Behavioural Research Ethics Committee. View

Approval was obtained from the UBC Clinical Research Ethics Committee for the Personal and Environmental Sampling. Please click here to view a copy of the certificate, and click here to view the sampling protocol.