Ambulance services

Hazards and Solutions

1. Hazard 1 Being hit by objects

   • Ensure doors are secured (eg use door chocks to hold doors open).
   • Set equipment up appropriately (eg secure items in the vehicle).
   • Coordinate team movements (eg establish a line of communication when moving through rooms and doors with patients).
2. Hazard 2 Fatigue and shift work

   • Develop strategies for managing the impact of fatigue (eg develop a fatigue management system and train managers / team leaders how to effectively implement it).
   • Train employees how to recognise fatigue signs and symptoms.
3. Hazard 3 Lifting and moving patients or heavy objects

   • Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg lift cushions, stair chairs, slide sheets, transfer belts, evacuations sheets) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
   • Provide specifically designed equipment and vehicles to assist with the transfer of bariatric patients.
   • Train employees how to safely use any mechanical equipment and aids and on safe handling methods (eg work is done between shoulder and mid-thigh height with the elbows close to the body).
   • Clear the work area of any obstacles (eg remove any furniture or tripping hazards from the lifting zone and access / egress path.
4. Hazard 4 Post-traumatic stress

   • Provide post-incident care, including counselling and support.
   • Ensure that all employees are aware of the organisational policies and procedures on access to any debriefing and/or counselling when required.
   • Provide information on early and supportive interventions that can assist personnel when dealing with emotional distress resulting from their involvement in an incident, injury or traumatic event.
5. Hazard 5 Repetitive movements (including getting in / out of vehicles)

   • Ensure there is a place to park vehicles in a way that permits safe and easy access for loading, unloading and egress.
   • Design loading, unloading and egress areas so they are clear, dry, even and well-lit.
   • Ensure employees use three points of contact when accessing / exiting vehicles.
   • Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.
6. Hazard 6 Work-related stress bullying and harassment

   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures for workplace bullying and harassment.
   • Encourage a positive workplace culture, including reporting of bullying and harassment.
   • Ensure all employees understand what bullying and harassment is, and the procedures for reporting incidents (eg policies and procedures should be promoted during employee induction and workplace bullying prevention or training. You should also provide Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training to ensure employees have an up-to-date understanding and awareness of rights and responsibilities in relation to bullying and harassment, and establish a network of trained EEO contact officers as a point of reference and support for all personnel).
   • Provide access and encourage employees to use employee counselling / support services, where possible.
   • Encourage employees to report any workplace stress factors (eg work demand, low control, poor support, lack of role clarity, organisational culture) and control appropriately.
7. Hazard 7 Work-related violence

   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures (eg exchange of information between shifts and offices, incident notification).
   • Provide appropriate personal protection, including methods to obtain assistance (eg duress alarms, mobile phones).
   • Ensure appropriate security measures are in place (eg toughened glass, no blind spots, access / egress control, barriers).
   • Provide security and / or call police to assist with occupational violence, when required.
   • Ensure employees work in teams of two when going into a client's house.
   • Encourage employees to report all incidents and provide appropriate incident response and feedback.
   • Provide critical incident debriefing and trauma counselling as soon as possible after a traumatic event such as assault.