Need for EMS specific

regulations
ERICH BONILLA
Background

 Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

 Private EMS providers
 Unlike fire based and third service they
do not have an assigned area.

 Dynamic Environment
 Do not know when your next response
will be
 Do not know what type of call you will
respond to
 Do not always know the circumstances
of a response
Stressors

 Violent Patients
 Substance Abuse
 Mental Health Issues
 Isolation
 Boredom
 Lack of down time
 Low wages and benefits
 Multiple jobs
 Weather
 Poor A/C
 Sun
Health Concerns

 Mental Health
 Health issues
 Exposed to multiple hazards
 Allergens
 Bodily fluids
 Sharps
 Vehicle exhaust and fluids from
accidents
Impacts on Mental Health

 Mental Health
 Stress
 Depression
 Anger
 Work Place Violence

 Questioning Self-worth
 Low employee morale
 Suicide rates are 6-10 higher than the
national adult average
Impacts on Physical Health

 Physical harm
 Assault
 Back Issues
 Circulation Issues
 Blood clots legs
 Pulmonary Embolism
 Respiratory Issues
 Development of Allergies
 Infection
 Respiratory
 Blood Borne
Who regulates EMS?

 D.O.T
 Set National Standards
 State
 California Health and Human Services
Agency
 California Emergency Medical Services
Authority

 Local
 County Public Health
 EMS Office
OSHA Regulations
Water
 OSHA Standards require an employer
to provide potable water in the
workplace and permit employees to
drink it. Potable water includes tap
water that is safe for drinking.
Employers cannot require employees
to pay for water that is provided. An
employer does not have to provide
bottled water if potable water is
available.
Restroom
 OSHA's Sanitation standard requires
that employers make toilet facilities
available so that employees can use
them when they need to. The
employer may not impose
unreasonable restrictions on employee
use of the facilities.
Which is right?

Which Is Best?
Bottled Water Water Coolers Small Lunch Pails
Which Restroom?

Fire Station Hospital Gas Station

 Need Specific Laws

 No central database  Creates uniform standards

 Training
 No way to track injuries and sicknesses
 Working conditions
 Does not allow for research to support
 Required equipment
policy changes
 Equipment maintenance
 Would provide standard reportable
 Los Angeles – 150,000 miles
events
 Riverside - 250,000 miles
 Address issues specific to the EMS field
 OSHA regulation
 Helps improve working conditions
 Improve morale and self-worth
References

 Ergonomics for Prolonged Sitting. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2018, from
https://www.uclahealth.org/spinecenter/ergonomics-prolonged-sitting
 It's time for an EMS health and safety agenda for the future. (2007).
Emergency Medical Services, 36(1), 30
 Jacobs, K., Waheed, S., Heller, N., & Appel, S. (2017). Emergency Medical
Services in California:, 31.
 https://www.osha.gov/OSHA_FAQs.html#!drinkingwater
 http://www.jems.com/articles/print/volume-40/issue-10/features/survey-
reveals-alarming-rates-of-ems-provider-stress-and-thoughts-of-suicide.html