The Age.
Julia Medew
July 8, 2009
THE number of stressed paramedics making WorkSafe claims has doubled
in recent years, costing the state more than $4 million along with other
injury claims.
Figures released under freedom of information show 36 paramedics made
stress claims amounting to more than $590,000 in the year to June 2008.
This compared with 18 the previous year, which amounted to $322,000.
Overall, paramedics' claims jumped from 184 in the year ending June 2007
to 229 the following year.
The most common claim was for musculoskeletal injuries, which increased
from 138 claims to 161 in the year ending June 2008. The claims amounted
to about $2 million during both financial years.
The figures come as the paramedics' union, Ambulance Employees Australia,
continues to negotiate with Ambulance Victoria over better pay and conditions.
The union has called for 10-hour breaks between shifts after surveys showed
paramedics were falling asleep at the wheel and giving patients the wrong
drugs because of fatigue.
A survey of 347 Victorian paramedics, conducted by the union last year, found
98 per cent had battled fatigue at work in the past year, with a further 87 per
cent saying it had affected their judgment.
About 73 per cent blamed their workload for the problem and 69 per cent
believed it arose from not taking meal or rest breaks. When asked to give
examples of how fatigue had affected them, paramedics said they had fallen
asleep while driving and had trouble administering drugs.
Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie said he was
not surprised by the jump in stress claims and knew of some paramedics who
had quit because they could not face work again. "It is absolutely devastating.
The impact on these people's families is huge, too," he said. "Workload has
increased dramatically … particularly in the past 12 months. Paramedics
are working under enormous pressure."
He said Ambulance Victoria had offered the union a package that "would not
cut a deal". He said that if there was no progress in coming days, paramedics
could take industrial action this week.
Operations manager for Ambulance Victoria's Metro Division, Danny
McGennisken, said many measures had been introduced to prevent stress
and help paramedics manage their work conditions, such as psychological
first-aid training programs.
He said 287 paramedics were recruited last year and that fatigue had
always been taken seriously.
"It's much more complex than 10-hour breaks. We've put in place a series of
roster changes that reduce the number of night shifts people work, and we've
educated staff on understanding fatigue and things like sleep habits and
dietary requirements."
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