(Photo: QAS)
January 13, 2016
South Burnett ambulance staff have been invited to have their say on ways to help stop workplace violence.
This follows recent attacks on Queensland paramedics which have gained widespread publicity.
Commissioner Russell Bowles said assaults on ambulance staff, whether physical or verbal, were inexcusable and shameful behaviour.
He said the QAS and the ambulance union United Voice Queensland have established a special taskforce to investigate occupational violence and provide recommendations to reduce the risk to ambulance workers.
The taskforce is being chaired by Deputy Commissioner Craig Emery and includes union representatives, paramedics, communications officers and university researchers.
The taskforce was set up last month but has already met twice.
Commissioner Bowles said the QAS had also started development on a public education campaign, “Zero Tolerance: No Excuse For Abuse”, which would include media and social media promotions and the placement of “Zero Tolerance” stickers on the rear of ambulances.
Posters would also be placed inside all vehicles.
“The focus for the Taskforce in coming months includes a review of contemporary research in occupational violence-related risk in ambulance services, as well as collaboration with key stakeholders to provide advice on issues of occupational violence impacting on QAS personnel,” Commissioner Bowles said.
He said feedback from ambulance staff was essential to the process and would be considered at future Taskforce meetings.
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The LNP Opposition said on Wednesday the State Government should back away from any plan to arm ambulance officers with tasers.
Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said ambulance officers should not be armed “and any move to do so would put the safety of officers and patients at risk”.
He cited an incident overnight in NSW where a patient grabbed a police officer’s gun and fired two shots, wounding the officer and a security guard.
“Unfortunately what we have seen overnight in NSW is that sometimes our emergency staff fall victim to violent attacks and providing paramedics with tasers or other weapons increase the risk that they could be used against them,” Mr McArdle said.
“Patient treatment is the priority, it’s what our professional ambulance officers are best at, that’s why we must continue have a focus on the best medical care not security and weapons training.
“Labor needs to stand up and reject Health Minister Cameron Dick’s hare-brained idea to get paramedics to do the job of police.”
It is a sad situation when members of the most trusted profession in our community may have to be armed to protect themselves so they can carry out their life saving work.