Safety and security

EMTs must demonstrate due diligence for the safety and security of their personnel and patients during deployment by putting in place management plans and practical measures appropriate to the operational context and communicate plans to those concerned.

Duty of care in relation to health and safety at work is a generally accepted moral requirement, codified in law as a general principle and often further developed in rules and regulations relating to a particular sector of activity. The work of EMTs should be seen as one such sector, with its own characteristics. A challenge for EMT management is ensuring reasonable and appropriate measures are taken regarding security risks and how to best prepare and care for personnel during and after deployment.

1. EMT organizations deploying teams owe their staff a legal and moral duty of care concerning their health, safety and security while on and off duty.
2. At the headquarters level, a security policy should be in place and communicated outlining organizational roles and responsibilities in relation to security issues, as well as clearly defining the institutional threshold for acceptable risk.
3. At the field level, EMTs must have a security risk management process in place, including an early warning system.
4. EMTs should have critical incident management systems in place to deal with serious security events during operations.
5. Develop an occupational safety and health plan for workplace safety and the prevention and control of hazards.

1. EMTs need plan for separate facilities for men and women, particularly applicable where gender-mixing is not considered appropriate.
2. Depending on the context, fences can be erected using materials of different types and heights, but general principles should consider good visibility to the health facility to maintain community engagement.
3. Equipment may include ABC powder extinguishers, CO2 fire extinguishers, fire blankets or other portable fire extinguishers. This needs to be complemented by training, competent staff and evacuation plans and procedures.

• The security risk management process must include:
  • a local risk assessment based on the relevant operational context
  • a written security plan
  • a set of practical team and individual measures designed to reduce the impact and/or likelihood of changing security risks during operations. Ideally, this should be led by an identified security focal point within the team.
• EMTs will have a range of security approaches, but all should include liaison with local authorities and arrangements to share security updates quickly with deployed personnel (the principle of informed consent).
• Security contingency plans for the most likely critical incidents should
  be developed, briefed and rehearsed, including, but not limited to, circumstances involving injury, illness or death of staff, team relocation/extraction, hibernation and other incidents identified as part of the team’s risk assessment.
• All EMTs must have adequate fire-fighting equipment and training for their own fire hazards, including the ability to tackle a wide range of fires and a warning mechanism in place.
• Provide outdoor lighting around the health facility, including peripheral areas to allow patients and staff to move safely at night. Lighting for interior clinical areas should be adequate for carrying out medical procedures.