Study gives tick to defence firemen health

Defence force firefighters are a healthy lot with a lower death rate than the Australian population and cancer rates about the same, a new study says.

This study, conducted by Monash University, examined more than 1800 air force, navy and army firefighters as part of a broader study of Australian firefighters, prompted by overseas work which identified higher rates of some cancers in firemen.

It uncovered no statistically significant findings, with the overall mortality rate, particularly among the 924-strong air force group, significantly lower than expected, most likely because of what's termed the "health worker effect."