MAO Manual

General Safety Issues As mentioned before, the MAVO is generally responsible for the well being of the patient when transporting him or her. The MAVO should remain in control of the transport, looking out for potential safety issues and guarding the patient from hazards. Possible hazards during a transport include: Falls or spills – A loose rug or icy step can cause a slip or fall with serious consequences. A wise MAVO looks for items that can cause possible slips and falls. Motor vehicle accidents – Like any other type of transportation, the possibility of a motor vehicle collision represents a huge possible hazard. Since you will be driving elderly or medically fragile patients, there is an expectation that you will drive as safely as possible. Harm from self – Some patients, particularly those with degenerative brain illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease can sometimes behave in ways that are unsafe. A confused patient could, for example, wander into a busy street or unbuckle his seat belt in a car. You must supervise patients to prevent them from doing harm to themselves. Regulatory Bodies When working for a company that is licensed in New Jersey as a Mobility Assistance Vehicle provider, an MAVO must comply with the training regulations mandated by the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). Like many other industries, worker protection issues are regulated under the jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (OSHA) Occupational Safety & Health Administration OSHA has a number of safety standards designed to protect workers from occupational hazards. They are generally not industry specific; rather, employers are required to evaluate the hazards their workers are exposed to and comply with standards that

apply to those hazards. OSHA investigates complaints regarding unsafe behaviors, and has the authority to cite employers for unsafe working conditions. This manual will discuss one the main OSHA standards that affect MAV operations – the Bloodborne Pathogens standard. NJ State Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services The Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) licenses and regulates medical transportation in New Jersey. It has authority to regulate MAV operations, ambulance services, paramedic units, critical care transports, and air medical units. It grants licensures to providers, certifies EMT’s and paramedics, approves education programs, and enforces the regulations for the operation of these services. The main document that defines the operating requirements for MAV operations is NJAC 8:40. NJAC 8:40 requires that the MAVO must have current training in an approved paratransit education program, and have current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. OEMS can stop MAV vehicles on the road to inspect for these credentials. DEFINITION: Crashworthy In a licensed MAV unit, all materials in the vehicle must be crashworthy . This means the it must be secured with a belt or other positive locking means so that it will not become a projectile during a collision or rollover and hurt someone in the vehicle. While automotive seat belts are acceptable, Velcro™ or bungee cords are not.