AIMS

Paramedics perform heavy physical work in uncontrolled environments. The South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS) engaged an Occupational Health Physiotherapist in May 2011 to review the current equipment and work practices as well as the manual tasks training programs that sit behind them in order to address the high rate of musculoskeletal injuries that paramedics suffer. The presentation will outline the findings of that review, the solutions being implemented and the results of this comprehensive program to protect emergency health services personnel. The findings translate to other areas and industries.

METHODS

The whole approach to manual task risk management at SAAS has been reviewed, with changes to training content, equipment, dynamic risk assessment, and ambulance environments. Removing high risk work practices and providing alternatives to these is showing significant rewards.

The use of scenario based training and assessment has improved the dynamic risk assessment and problem solving of paramedics, enabling them to make safer choices. The provision of equipment to reduce or eliminate hazardous tasks is a key part of this.

RESULTS

The perception that the hierarchy of control can’t be used in emergency services because of the environments paramedics work within has been demonstrated to be false. There are many opportunities to influence the equipment, decisions, environment, and techniques that paramedics perform to eliminate or reduce manual task risks.

Fitness for work initiatives to improve physical capacity and prompt multi-disciplinary injury management have improved outcomes.

SAAS has seen a marked reduction in the number and cost of lost time musculoskeletal injuries in the last three years.

DISCUSSION

Manual Task risks can be controlled in ambulance services. Training paramedics to identify the hazardous characteristics of manual tasks and implement effective controls creates markedly better results than the old manual handling paradigm of teaching them to ‘lift right’.