Regulations banning smoking in BLS Ambulances

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Hi Everyone!

My squad has a problem member. In several of our rigs, there are cigarette burn marks, and we even found used cigarettes under the seats. Two of our township residents, who are not members, also reported to our squad that they saw a member smoking in one of our rigs. They were able to successfully identify this member.

A meeting was held, but the outcome was that the member will not be reprimanded. I know there must be some sort of regulation or law that prevents anyone from smoking in an ambulance. We are located in NJ. I did locate NJ Administrative Code Title 8, Chapter 40, which states that crewmember duties include prohibiting smoking within the vehicle at all times (NJAC 8.40-6.4, a15).

I have also tried locating OSHA regulations regarding smoking with no avail.

Does anyone else know of regulations/laws that prevent smoking in ambulances?
 
Look at OSHA again. There is a regulation regarding food (even lipstick) and usage of tobacco in EMS unit.

R/r 911
 
I'm in California, but here, the state says no smoking in back at all, and only in the front when there's no patient. Most companies expand it to the local workplace smoking rule that states there is smoking in designated outdoor areas only (with a few exceptions). Hmmm, does that make sense?
 
In my opinion there should be no smoking in an ambulance, period. There are oxygen tanks that can be a hazard not to mention the fact that it looks unprofessional as well. Smoking in vehicles also tends to create an odor that is nearly impossible to get rid of in that size space.
 
Perhaps he was reprimanded behind closed doors. Any time I have been reprimanded for anything, it involved a private meeting with management and wasn't broadcasted to the rest of the employee body.

Watch for a Memo or new policy regarding tobacco usage on company time. That is about how it goes for the companies/districts I have worked for in the past: Somebody does something that common sense dictates should not be done, Person spends an hour in the main office, a new memo is then distributed informing us "You should not be <doing whatever the employee was doing>!!!!", we all laugh/cuss at the memo because 'None of us are stupid enough to do that' (Not really knowing someone was reprimanded earlier in the morning)
 
OSHA regulations state that there shall be no smoking within 20 feet of any compressed cylinder including oxygen (29 CFR 1910.101b). This rules out smoking in any ambulance or EMS response vehicle as well as within most garages or apparatus bays where EMS vehicles are housed. This sentiment is echoed by the National Fire Protection Association in their standards.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9747
 
smoking in any part of the ambulance clearly against the rules.
 
No smoking in the ambulance station PERIOD. Smoking is allowed out front of the bay doors, and on the side where the side entrance is, but not inside the bay area or inside the station. No Exceptions.
 
onwego said:
There are oxygen tanks that can be a hazard
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you sir are in need of an education.

oxygen is not flamable. it is not an accelerant. it is an oxidizer(oddly enough). there is absolutely no danger of smoking in an ambulance. heres why:


even if the main and all protables were left open, the amulance would not be able to become oxygen saturated, or at the very least sustain said state for two reasons. we are in and out of the truck so many times is an hour much less a shift that the air inside the truck is exchaged completely over 50 times and hour. two, an amublance it not a sealed environment so even with the doors and windown closed, you still have the climate vents to deal with.


thats not to say smoking in the rig is acceptable. it isnt. but danger has nothing to do with it.
 
KEVD18 said:
you sir are in need of an education.

oxygen is not flamable. it is not an accelerant. it is an oxidizer(oddly enough). there is absolutely no danger of smoking in an ambulance. heres why:


even if the main and all protables were left open, the amulance would not be able to become oxygen saturated, or at the very least sustain said state for two reasons. we are in and out of the truck so many times is an hour much less a shift that the air inside the truck is exchaged completely over 50 times and hour. two, an amublance it not a sealed environment so even with the doors and windown closed, you still have the climate vents to deal with.


thats not to say smoking in the rig is acceptable. it isnt. but danger has nothing to do with it.
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No O2 is not flammable, but I wouldn't want to be the one to test your assumptions.

Often the cause of many house fires are from people, that want to smoke, who have taken their NC off and laid it in the bed clothes which then become very saturated with oxygen. Once the cigarette drops on an O2 enriched environment, it's all over.

We have also had people in the ED who have lit high flow O2 devices and used them as weapons against the staff. People who have wanted to commit suicide have used O2 sources in the hospital to accelerate the flame.

You will also be transporting asthmatics who have sensitive airways. How stupid is it to have your ambulance and yourself stinking like an ash tray?
 
Ramb'O2

VentMedic said:
We have also had people in the ED who have lit high flow O2 devices and used them as weapons against the staff.
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HOLY SMOKES! :P (sorry, that was too easy)

We've got to hear the rest of this story...hope no one was hurt tho
 
tacky

I agree there should not be smoking in the bus - very "mother, jugs and speed"ish, don't ya think?
 
Zippo1969 said:
HOLY SMOKES! :P (sorry, that was too easy)

We've got to hear the rest of this story...hope no one was hurt tho
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Have you ever worked in a large city ED or busy EMS system? I'm sure even my stories are tame when compared to NYC and LA. Although, I think Miami can hold up with the best of them.
 
Next time I read "O2 doesn't burn"... clobberin' time.

Nitrous dosn't burn either, its an oxidant, but either are stored in pressurized containers and can accelerate fires, magnify sparks to ignite other stuff. And since the interior of the ambulance is made of Melamine, polycarbonate, woven artifical or wool stuff, documentary plain and NCR paper, and lots of paper wrapped cotten bandages, you do not need heightened O2 to cause a very toxic hot smokey fire. You are safer smoking near a UDMH* or hydrogen tanker in the open.
Ask your insurance people, NFPA, etc. Stupid danged immature addicitve childish behavior on an employer's time in an unsafe environment.


*A class of methyl-ethyl badstuff known as "rocket fuel").
 
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yep worked in new orleans for a time - definately some strangeness there.

I have a mental picture of an aged RAMBO in a wheelchair with his O2 flamethrower...
 
one more thing: can anyone explain to me the difference between a bls ambulance and an als ambulance as it pertains to this discussion?
 
KEVD18 said:
one more thing: can anyone explain to me the difference between a bls ambulance and an als ambulance as it pertains to this discussion?
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Essentially nothing at my service. ALS rigs carry IV pumps and vents as standard, while a BLS doesn't. Everything else is the same... And some of our medics don't carry those either.
 
jtpaintball70 said:
Essentially nothing at my service. ALS rigs carry IV pumps and vents as standard, while a BLS doesn't. Everything else is the same... And some of our medics don't carry those either.
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I believe KEVD18 was referring to what difference does BLS and ALS trucks have as in one smoking inside of either. The OP asked about regulations banning smoking in BLS ambulances as if it would be different than smoking in an ALS truck
 
You have got to be kidding!

They are to be for patient transports, I don't care if it is ALS or BLS. Smoking in a ambulance is unprofessinal, unhealthy for your patient and your partner. Not to mention all of chemicals that go on to the supplies and equipment from smoking. We are to be the patient's advocates.....

Poor judgement............. sigh
 
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