Fw: [DailyBrief] OSHA issues Best Practices document for EMS responders to HazMat incidents

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[DailyBrief] OSHA issues Best Practices document for EMS responders to

HazMat incidents

OSHA releases Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders during

Treatment andTransport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Releases

From the Executive Summary:

In 2005, OSHA published the Best Practices for Hospital-Based First

Receivers guide that provided guidance for those healthcare facilities

that receive and treat victims of hazardous substance releases. At the

request of stakeholders that participated in the development of that

guide,OSHA has developed a similar guide for emergency medical service

(EMS)responders who provide medical assistance during an incident

involving a hazardous substance release. This guide is intended for

employers of EMS responders and discusses the measures these employers

need to take to protect their EMS responders from becoming additional

victims while on the front lineof medical response.

Scope

EMS responders are broadly defined here as the individuals who provide

pre-hospital emergency medical care and patient transportation. Some EMS

responders are also assigned duties that support patient care, including

patient decontamination. For the purpose of this guide, the term EMS

responder refers to all levels of emergency medical personnel involved

in incident response (e.g., emergency medical technicians [EMTs],

paramedics, and others who perform similar duties). While many EMS

responders are cross-trained(e.g., EMT and firefighter), this guide

applies to these workers only when they are functioning as EMS

responders.

The document can be downloaded at:

http://osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3370-protecting-EMS-respondersSM.pdf

http://osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3370-protecting-EMS-respondersSM.pdf>

EnMagine,Inc was among the stakeholders that were reconvened in 2006 to

provide input regarding this document. In anticipation of this release

EnMagine has created a workgroup of experienced paramedics, nurses,

hazardous materials technicians/specialists, trainers, and emergency

managers and is modifying its existing HazMat for Healthcare training

program to meet the substance and intent of this new Best Practices

document.

Organizations interested in receiving hazardous materials emergency

response training,planning, and/or exercising for EMS organizations and

their personnel are encouraged to contact EnMagine.

Penn

EnMagine,Inc.

PostOffice Box 280

DiamondSprings, CA 95619

(530)622-5964 (voice)

(530)622-5917 (fax)

(916)718-0751 (mobile)

paul@... paul@...>

www.hazmatforhealthcare.org

www.enmagine.com

EnMaginationNewsletter Volume 1

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