Ambulance Services in the Context of Occupational Health and Safety and Risks Faced by Ambulance Attendants

The contemporary world has witnessed accelerated technological developments. While these advancements offer effective solutions to prevalent challenges in private and business sectors, they concomitantly introduce new issues, hazards, and risks. Among these, those employed in ambulance services face heightened exposure to hazards and risks due to their involvement in emergency situations and the ambience of the ambulance environment, which is frequently characterized by the presence of individuals. In the context of occupational health and safety, these employees are exposed to a range of risks, including physical (e.g., noise, vibration, radiation), chemical (e.g., latex allergy, anaphylactic shock), biological (e.g., needle stick, diseases caused by contact with blood and body fluids), ergonomic (e.g., forceful repetitive movements, inappropriate load carrying), psychosocial (e.g., violence, burnout, depression). Moreover, these individuals may encounter secondary accidents, such as falling, slipping while departing the station to reach the incident location, and lacking sufficient information about the scene, which can lead to exposure to secondary accidents, including electric shock and fire hazards. In light of the aforementioned risks and dangers, it is imperative to examine the occupational risks faced by ambulance services employees in terms of occupational health and safety. To ensure the optimal well-being of these employees, it is imperative to implement adequate staffing levels, enhance working conditions, provide access to psychological support without the concern of stigmatization, educate personnel on how to prevent violence from patients and/or their relatives, ensure regular occupational health and safety training, and optimize work schedules and shift systems to minimize undue stress. Keywords: ambulance services, ambulance, risk, hazard