LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS

Over the past forty years, the awareness and importance of safe operating practices has become part of our day-to-day ‘standard” procedures’. Safe work practices can no longer be thought of as ‘another program’ added to our normal work practices; it is now and must be part of our daily working existence. The law enforcement profession is no different. We readily associate the law enforcement profession with protecting the public, without realizing that at the same time they face many of the same occupational hazards.

Experience can be very real and tangible. We learn by collaborating with others, by doing and/or watching others. It can be acquired then applied to guide one through mitigation if the foundation for the knowledge is properly employed. By sharing my experiences with you, I hope that I can stimulate your quest for knowledge and possibly motivate you to study further so you can learn how to operate effectively and safely.

Police officers face a range of risks at work: homicide, assaults, communicable diseases, injuries during car crashes and regular abuse. The risks vary according to the task being undertaken for example, whether performing traffic duties, attending street disturbances, arresting offenders, guarding prisoners in jails or transporting offenders to court.

Police have a high-risk job compares to many others workers. Several officers are killed each year, while many more are assaulted and other contract a range of illnesses from work. The dangers are not just physical. The daily “civilian combat” of police officers can be compared with warfare.

The police officer is expected to be combat-ready at all times…a continual sense of danger from an unknown enemy. While the Vietnam veteran was at war for a minimum of nine months, police officers alternate between the violence of the street to the normalcy of civilian life on a daily basic.

According to the OSHA Act it specifically addresses that each federal agency, including federal law enforcement agencies, must:

• Provide safe and healthful places and conditions of employment
• Acquire, maintain, and require the use of safety equipment, personnel protective equipment, and devices reasonably necessary to protect employees
• Keep adequate records of all occupational accidents and illnesses for proper evaluation and necessary corrective action

SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS FACED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS While the act covers federal law enforcement agencies, it does not apply to state and local law enforcement agencies.

There are no national occupational safety and health requirements specific to state and local law enforcement. These law enforcement agencies are only subject to any local and state laws, accreditation standards, and bargaining contracts that may exist.

In the absence of an effective occupational safety and health program, the employer may face liability lawsuits. Occupational safety and health program may help reduce liability and the number of lawsuits against a department. For example, physically fit officers may be more likely to use less forceful tactics when faced with a situation that has potential for excessive force. Having a good Occupational Safety and Health program in place:

Law enforcement personnel face a variety of safety and health issues every day. Some of the exposures are relatively minor. Other can have long term consequences that affect an officer’s quality of life or result in death. Unless a municipality eliminates or mitigates these risk exposures, officer safety is at risk, and the municipality could incur the costs associated with an injured employee’s lost time and fines from OSHA. These costs can be significant.

Only properly trained and equipped officers should knowingly enter a clandestine drug laboratory. The Clandestine Laboratory Training Unit of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) offers training programs that meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for working with respiratory protection. Current regulations do mandate that law enforcement officers receive at least 24 hours of hazardous chemical handling training before entering a clandestine drug laboratory. Officers should also receive annually refresher training.

While investigating crimes, conducting searches, taking samples, or arresting suspects, police can be exposed to infectious organisms. During the body search of a suspected drug user or his/her premises, there is always the risk of a puncture wound from secreted needles which may be contaminated with HIV, hepatitis B or other debilitating virus or bacteria. Police can also contract hepatitis B from the saliva of infected offenders, from their vomit or feces in padded cells, or while restraining a suspect who bites. Tuberculosis can be contracted through airborne cough droplets.

All officers should be trained in Occupational Safety and Health subjects which are applicable to their job. Occupational Safety and Health training for law enforcement personnel is standard from department to department. The training should cover the concepts of knowledge of basic hazard and risk assessment techniques, understanding hazardous material terms and learning the selection of protective equipment.

Departments can start a training program in conducting initial OSHA training for each officer and a brief training session annually or when the work environment changes. Recommendations specific to hazards associated with Public Safety Officers should be trained in where applicable would be as follows:

Every Officer In Charge (OIC) at the start of his or her shift should take the time to introduce into the briefing a short five minute occupational safety and health training session. This can easily be done by selecting one safety topic each day as a reminder for all officers to add a little extra protection in their schedule for occupational safety and health to protect them.

Every police officer should be trained to recognize a clandestine drug laboratory. Some signs include ammonia or other unusual odors, a large number of glass containers and specific chemicals. In most cases, an unprepared officer should leave the environment of the laboratory and call for the appropriate response. If officers recognize a laboratory, they should get out if possible, avoid eating or drinking anything, and be aware of booby traps and hostile suspects. Only trained officers should make entry and should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Always remember the most dangers can be found in an active drug laboratory, but there are safety and health dangers found in an inactive drug as well.

• Contact With Body Fluids
  • Police officers often come into contact with body fluids in the course of their duties, such as when handling accident victims or those who have been rescued from violent attacks. In such situations, the officers stand the risk of being infected with bacteria and viruses which may cause diseases such as HIV. To guard against this risk, Occupational Safety and Health requires officers to wear protective clothing and gloves. However, if contact with bodily fluids such as blood does occur, they should was the infected area with water and soap. Gloves and other protective gear should not be reused. All officers who encounter an exposure must complete an exposure report and testing for communicable disease is completed. Exposure report must be filed with officer’s supervisor.

Recommendations Specific to Hazards Associated with Public Safety