Emergency\uc2\ua0medical\uc2\ua0services\uc2\ua0workers :\uc2\ua0how\uc2\ua0employers\uc2\ua0can\uc2\ua0prevent\uc2\ua0injuries\uc2\ua0and\uc2\ua0exposures

"Emergency medical services (EMS) workers are important to public health and safety. However, work-related injuries present a challenge to EMS worker productivity and retention. Research shows that EMS workers have higher rates of work-related injuries than the general workforce and three times the lost workday rate of all private-industry workers. Employers need to understand why injuries occur in order to prevent them. Fewer injuries can result in a healthier workforce and decreased costs to the agency. This fact sheet highlights results from a four-year study capturing data from EMS workers treated in emergency departments and provides recommendations for prevention. More than 22,000 EMS workers visited emergency departments each year for work-related injuries. What can employers do to prevent workplace injuries and exposures? Employers can promote a culture of safety by requiring practices to help keep EMS workers safe and maintaining a reporting system to capture and monitor injuries and near misses." - NIOSHTIC-2Suggested citation: NIOSH [2017]. Emergency Medical Services Workers: How Employers Can Prevent Injuries and Exposures. By Reichard A, Marsh S, and Olsavsky R. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2017\ue2\u20ac\u201c194.NIOSHTIC no. 2005017