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Abstract
Objective Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians operate in environments that predispose them to occupational hazards. Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of occupational hazards and associations with mitigation strategies in a national dataset.
Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of currently working, nationally certified civilian EMS clinicians aged 18–85 in the USA. After recertifying their National EMS Certification, respondents were invited to complete a survey with questions regarding demographics, work experience and occupational hazards. Three multivariable logistic regression models (OR, 95% CI) were used to describe associations between these hazards and demographics, work characteristics and mitigation strategies. Models were adjusted for age, sex, minority status, years of experience, EMS agency type, service type and EMS role.
Results A total of 13 218 respondents met inclusion criteria (response rate=12%). A high percentage of EMS clinicians reported occupational injuries (27%), exposures (38%) and violence (64%) in the past 12 months. Odds of injury were lower with the presence of a lifting policy (0.73, 0.67–0.80), lift training (0.74, 0.67–0.81) and always using a powered stretcher (0.87, 0.78–0.97). Odds of exposure decreased with chemical, biological and nuclear exposure protection training (0.75, 0.69–0.80). Training in de-escalation techniques was associated with lower odds of experiencing violence (0.87, 0.79–0.96).
Conclusions Occupational hazards are commonly experienced among EMS clinicians. Common mitigation efforts are associated with lower odds of reporting these hazards. Mitigation strategies were not widespread and associated with lower odds of occupational hazards. These findings may present actionable items to reduce occupational hazards for EMS clinicians.
- Occupational Health
- Public health
- Health Personnel
Data availability statement
No data are available.
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
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WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC
Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians work in dynamic environments that can lead to occupational hazards such as injuries, biological exposures and violence. Prior to this study, a nationally representative assessment of EMS clinicians’ experiences with occupational hazards and their associations with mitigation strategies had not been completed.
WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS
We found that occupational hazards are common for EMS clinicians, with odds of experiencing these hazards lower in the presence of some mitigation measures (eg, training in patient lifting, de-escalation techniques and personal protective equipment).
HOW THIS STUDY MIGHT AFFECT RESEARCH, PRACTICE OR POLICY
This study informs current efforts and advises future steps to maintain a healthy and resilient EMS clinician workforce.
Introduction
Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians (emergency medical technician (EMT), advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT), paramedic) in the USA operate at the intersection of emergency medicine, public health and public safety.1 2 Tasked with providing life-saving care in the prehospital setting, EMS clinicians may be placed into unpredictable and often unsafe environments.3 4 Ensuring scene and clinician safety via mitigation strategies, such as training in appropriate lifting techniques or staging away from the scene if danger is suspected, is prioritised in initial and continuing education.5 6 However, despite extensive training and preparation, the safety dynamics of an EMS scene can change with little to no warning.7
Accordingly, the potential for occupational injury, biological exposure and workplace violence are daily considerations for prehospital clinicians.3 8 9 Previous research demonstrates that EMS clinicians are at a considerable risk of occupational and individual hazards.10 For example, past assessments of violence towards US EMS clinicians found that over two-thirds of respondents had experienced verbal or physical violence, while an international analysis of physically assaulted EMS clinicians revealed that 32% believed the incident could have been predicted.3 11 An emergency department-based evaluation of records from 2010 to 2014 found that exposures to harmful substances, bodily injury and assaults/violence are common reasons for EMS clinicians to seek care.12 Additionally, 57% of injury cases among a localised analysis of EMS clinicians led to days away from work or restricted activity.13
A better understanding of the national prevalence of occupational hazards, and their associations with mitigation measures, is necessary to maintain the health and safety of EMS clinicians, thereby maintaining a resilient workforce.12 Our objectives were to evaluate the prevalence of EMS occupational injuries, exposures and violence in a national sample of EMS clinicians. Further, we examined associations between occupational injuries, exposures and violence with workforce characteristics and commonly employed mitigation strategies.
Methods
Study design, setting and population
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of nationally certified EMS clinicians in the USA. As part of the biennial recertification process, those EMS clinicians who complete a recertification application are invited to participate in a voluntary survey. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (National Registry) conducts the voluntary survey annually, with approximately 100 000 EMS clinicians eligible to participate after completing a recertification application. As of 2023, there were 484 902 nationally registered EMS clinicians.14 Recertification of National Registry certification occurs in a biennial process with two separate yearly cohorts of EMS clinicians who elect to remain nationally certified or are required to remain nationally certified due to state policy. No incentives were offered to complete the survey, which was included as an optional survey after recertification completion. Each recertifying cohort is a representative sample of the overall National EMS Certification database in terms of demographic and work-related characteristics, as determined by comparing of each individual cohort against the others at differing time points since recertification data began being collected.1 15
All non-military EMS clinicians at the EMT, AEMT and paramedic certification levels that recertified during the 2019–2020 cycle (spanning from 1 October 2019 to 30 June 2020) were eligible to participate. Military personnel and those certified at the emergency medical responder level were recertified using a different process and thus excluded. Respondents included for analysis were those currently working in EMS and aged 18 years and older. This examination was deemed exempt by the American Institutes for Research Institutional Review Board (Arlington, Virginia, USA).
Measures
The survey assessed EMS-related characteristics, experiences relating to occupational injuries, exposures, and violence in the prior 12 months, and potential mitigation strategies. Additional respondent demographics and EMS-related characteristics were obtained via National Registry provider demographic and work characteristic profiles and linked to survey responses using the National EMS Certification database unique identifier. Demographics included age, sex, race/ethnicity and education level. EMS-related characteristics included certification level (basic life support (BLS) or advanced life support (ALS)), years of EMS experience, employment status (part-time or full time), community size of main EMS agency (urban or rural) and type and service provided at the respondent’s main EMS agency (eg, primarily fire-rescue response, municipal third-service EMS response).
Occupational injury was defined by an affirmative response if they had any occurrence of an on-the-job injury in the past 12 months. Occurrence was self-defined by the respondent. Those who responded negatively to this question but then reported a positive needlestick, back injury, lifting injury or other injury in the past 12 months were also included. Mitigation strategies for reducing occupational injury assessed were the presence of a lift policy, lifting training in the past 12 months and use of a powered stretcher. Lift policy was measured with a dichotomous yes/no variable responding to the question, ‘Does your main EMS agency have a policy for patient lifting practices?’ Lift training in the past 12 months was assessed as a dichotomous yes/no variable. Use of a powered stretcher was assessed categorically as never, sometimes or always.
Occupational exposure was assessed by asking respondents if they had been exposed to blood, hazardous chemicals or smoke when on the job over the past 12 months. Exposure was self-defined by the respondent. Respondents who responded affirmatively to one of these three exposures were classified as having occupational exposure. A mitigation strategy for reducing occupational exposure was whether the clinician received training on personal protective equipment or chemical, biological and nuclear (PPE/CBN) materials in the past 12 months (dichotomous variable).
Occupational violence was assessed by asking respondents if they had experienced cursing, biting, spitting, punching, striking with an object, stabbing or shooting from a patient in the past 12 months. Experiencing violence was self-defined by the respondent. Respondents who responded affirmatively to one of these violent encounters were classified as experiencing violence in the past 12 months. Mitigation strategies for reducing occupational violence assessed were de-escalation training in the past 12 months and restraint training in the past 12 months. Both strategies were assessed as a dichotomous yes/no variable.
Data analysis
Descriptive statistics were calculated to describe the overall sample. Separate multivariable logistic regression models were fit for occupational injury, exposure and violence outcomes. In each model, we included the covariates of age, sex, education level, certification level, years of EMS experience, employment status, community size, service type and agency type. We also included mitigation factors specific to the outcome (eg, lifting policies for injury, training for injury and exposure, and de-escalation training for violence). Variables were selected a priori based on prior literature and substantive reasoning.3 12 Model fit and calibration was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and area under the receiver operator curves. Multicollinearity was assessed using variance inflation factor (VIF), with a VIF <10 considered acceptable. Missing data were handled using complete case analysis. All analyses were conducted with Stata IC V.17 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas).16
Results
Sample characteristics
A total of 13 218 EMS clinicians responded to the survey (response rate=12%) (table 1). The sample had a median age of 36 years (IQR 29–47) and was majority male and non-Hispanic white. The majority of respondents’ education included some college (31%), associate degree (23%) and bachelor’s degree (26%). ALS clinicians comprised 58% of the sample, with the largest proportion of clinicians having ≥8 years of experience in EMS. More respondents worked full time (73%) compared with part-time, worked in urban communities (88%) compared with rural and worked in an agency providing any 9-1-1 response services (84%).
Demographic and EMS-related employment characteristics of sample (n=13 218)
Prevalence of occupational hazards and mitigation strategies
Any occupational injury in the past 12 months was experienced by 27% of the sample (table 2). Of these, 17% involved the clinician’s back and 2% involved accidental needle injury. To mitigate injury risk, 66% of respondents reported a patient lifting policy, 71% had lifting training in the past 12 months and 54% always used a powered stretcher.
Prevalence of occupational hazards and mitigation strategies
Occupational exposures were experienced by 38% of the sample in the past 12 months (table 2), with 28% of clinicians exposed to blood, 19% to smoke and 5% to hazardous chemicals. PPE/CBN training in the prior 12 months to mitigate exposure risk was reported by 36% of the sample.
Occupational violence in the past 12 months was experienced by 64% of the sample (table 2), with participants experiencing cursing (62%), punching (28%), spitting (25%), biting (8%), being struck with an object (8%), stabbing (2%) and shooting-related violence (1%). For violence risk mitigation, 43% of respondents had de-escalation training and 50% received training in patient restraint in the past 12 months, respectively.
Factors associated with occupational hazards
To determine associations with occupational hazards and clinician demographics/workplace characteristics we calculated adjusted ORs for any occupational injury (table 3). ALS clinicians, compared with BLS clinicians, had higher odds of injury. Similarly, full-time clinicians had higher odds of injury than part-time clinicians, and third-service, private and hospital agencies had higher odds of injury than fire agencies. Compared with the youngest age category of <30 years, all age categories had lower odds of injury. Males, compared with females, had lower odds of injury. Mitigation strategies were also associated with lower odds of injury: patient lifting policy (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.67–0.80), patient lifting training in the past 12 months (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.67–0.81) and always using a powered stretcher (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78–0.97).
Factors associated with any occupational injury in the past 12 months
We also calculated the adjusted odds of experiencing any occupational exposure (table 4). Odds of exposure were higher for full-time clinicians compared with part-time and urban responders compared with rural. Third-service, private and hospital agency types had higher odds of exposure than fire agencies. Odds of exposure were progressively lower as clinician age category decreased, with the youngest age category of <30 years as the referent. Odds of exposure were lower for ALS clinicians compared with BLS clinicians. The mitigation strategy of PPE/CBN training in the past year was associated with lower odds of exposure (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69–0.80).
Factors associated with any occupational exposure in the past 12 months
Lastly, adjusted ORs for occupational violence were calculated (table 5). Odds of violence, similar to odds of exposure and injury, were progressively lower as age increased compared with those aged <30 years. Male sex, ALS certification, full-time employment and working at an urban EMS agency all had higher odds of violence than their respective referents. Third-service, private and hospital-based agencies had higher odds of violence than fire agencies. De-escalation training was associated with lower odds of violence (0.87, 0.79–0.96), while restraint training was not (1.03, 0.94–1.13).
Factors associated with any occupational violence in the past 12 months
Discussion
Many studies have evaluated the concepts of occupational injury, exposure and violence in EMS clinicians individually or in non-representative samples. This work examined a range of hazards in a single, nationally representative sample.3 In this national sample of EMS clinicians, we found that approximately one-quarter reported an occupational injury, one-third reported an occupational exposure and two-thirds reported experiencing occupational violence in the past 12 months. Further, we found that some mitigation strategies were effective and were associated with lower odds of reporting these occupational hazards. Surprisingly, mitigation strategies to combat these hazards were uncommon. Our findings confirmed that occupational hazards are a common workplace experience for EMS clinicians, as seen in previous studies,3 and there is substantial work needed to promote the widespread implementation of mitigation strategies.
In this sample, increased age, but not increased experience in EMS, had lower odds of experiencing all three hazards, indicating that there may be some unknown protective indicator that also increases with age. The hierarchical structure of some EMS systems may contribute to younger clinicians having an increased exposure to hazards, such as lifting more than their older counterparts, but this is unclear. ALS clinicians, compared with BLS clinicians, had lower odds of exposure but higher odds of injury and violence. This finding suggests that the additional training at high certification levels may protect against exposure but not injury and violence. There were no gender differences for odds of exposure but were noted for injury and violence. Interestingly, agencies classified as third service, hospital based and private all had higher odds of each hazard when compared with agencies classified as fire based. While fire-based agencies may have more opportunities for hazards due to their cross-training in fire and EMS, they also have additional safety standards regarding fitness, health, exposures, active shooters, hostile patients and minimum number of personnel on apparatus.17 We encourage further work to understand the differences in exposure and response to hazards among these unique subgroups in order to understand the best approaches for mitigation.
Though EMS clinicians experienced high rates of injuries and exposures in this examination, we also noted the clear benefit of mitigation strategies. This was evidenced by lower adjusted odds of injury being associated with a lifting policy, providing lifting training and when clinicians always use a powered stretcher compared with never. Further, we also observe lower adjusted odds of exposures associated with PPE/CBN training and lower adjusted odds of violence associated with de-escalation training. However, there was a low prevalence overall of mitigation strategies, demonstrating a substantial opportunity to improve the stability and resilience of the workforce by promoting interventions that have the potential to prevent injuries, exposures and violence. Regarding occupational exposure mitigation, nationally certified EMS clinicians are required to have training in PPE/CBN materials every 2 years to maintain their certification, indicating that the difference noted here (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69–0.80) is the difference with a 1-year increase in PPE/CBN training. This decrease in training from 2-year to 1-year intervals may allow EMS administrators to lower the odds of their clinicians experiencing occupational exposure.
High prevalence of workplace hazards and the apparent effectiveness of targeted mitigation strategies have implications for future EMS clinician safety and workforce stability. The majority of workplace injuries from assaults that require days off from work occur in the healthcare and social services area, which includes emergency medical personnel.18 Further, 37% of injuries and exposures among EMS clinicians treated in the emergency department reported missing one or more work days afterward.12 These types of hazards, not exclusive to EMS clinicians, were also estimated to have societal and economic costs of $1100 per worker due to preventable injury in 2020.19 Experiencing these occupational hazards can sideline clinicians and strain overall EMS system preparation for emergent and non-emergent responses. Considering the current national discussions on workforce challenges, these continued exposures further exacerbate current problems and may contribute to the high turnover of EMS clinicians. Lack of prepared and available EMS clinicians is also a critical discussion point regarding staffing challenges that continue to dominate national policy discussion.15 20 21
Limitations
There are several limitations to our study that should be noted. First, the cross-sectional design makes temporality between mitigation strategies and outcomes difficult to establish, making our results observational and associational, not causal. Second, the survey instrument elicited information about events occurring over the past 12 months, indicating the potential for recall and self-reporting bias. Third, while verbal assault was included in the violence measure, the inclusion of psychological injuries was not specifically addressed. Fourth, additional hazard prevention strategies, different from those assessed here, may not be captured in this examination, and their possible association with reduced odds of experiencing hazards. Fifth, the outcome measures were dichotomised and, therefore, do not describe the frequency with which each hazard was encountered. Lastly, while our sample was representative of the nationally certified EMS population (online supplemental appendix 1), differences could be present between those nationally certified and those not. These differences are difficult to measure due to the lack of a national database of EMS clinicians.
Supplemental material
Conclusion
Occupational hazards are commonly experienced in the workplace among nationally certified EMS clinicians. These hazards are associated with demographic characteristics such as age and sex, and workplace characteristics such as agency type and level of certification. Common mitigation efforts were not widespread, but when present were associated with lower odds of reporting these occupational hazards. Promotion and implementation of mitigation strategies may be an actionable approach to reduce occupational hazards for EMS clinicians.
Data availability statement
No data are available.
Ethics statements
Patient consent for publication
Ethics approval
This study involves human participants and was deemed exempt by the American Institutes of Research (EX00493). Participants gave informed consent to participate in the study before taking part.
Supplementary materials
Supplementary Data
This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.
Footnotes
Twitter @jreadyp, @JordanDKurthPhD, @gagecb3
Presented at This work was presented at the 2021 National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians Annual Meeting, virtual, 11–16 January 2021.
Contributors REC and ARP conceived and designed the study. ARP collected the data. JRP, REC, JDK, CBG and ARP analysed the data and drafted the manuscript. All authors contributed substantially to the interpretation of data and revision of the manuscript. JRP takes responsibility as guarantor for the paper as a whole.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.