Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

EMERGENCY RESPONDER HEALTH MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE (ERHMS)™

green circle - POST-DEPLOYMENT

Post-Deployment Phase

Responder Out-Processing Assessment

NIOSH response team

The out-processing assessment is the minimum post-deployment evaluation that should be conducted for responders. Out-processing assessments are conducted to determine if responders have been adversely affected by their deployment duties and to what extent. The assessments are also to evaluate trends within the population of workers for the purpose of identifying potential risks to others. Emergency responders may encounter conditions involving complex, uncontrolled environments such as those with hazardous chemicals including multiple or mixed chemical exposures, microbial agents, physical agents (e.g., temperature, noise, etc.), long work shifts, or stressful experiences. Therefore, all responders should receive an out-processing assessment as part of the demobilization process or as soon as possible after demobilization. Out-processing assessment should be simple, concise, and standardized. Ideally, the out-processing assessment would be a face-to-face interview in the field as responders are preparing to go back to their duty station. If face-to-face is not possible, other good options include collecting information by using paper, through the web, by phone interviews, or by conducting the assessment one to two weeks before or after demobilization.

Tools & Resources


Post-Event Tracking of Emergency Responder Health and Function

Two men tracking results

Post-event tracking of responder health may be appropriate because of potential health and safety risks that are characteristic in emergency response work. The goal is to identify health or functional consequences potentially associated with response work (e.g., exposure, illness, injury, or disability including emotional trauma) and to intervene early to maximize the chances for recovery and to stop further exposure for workers remaining on-scene (i.e., through exposure control or medical treatment).

The decision for further tracking should be based on a variety of factors including: information regarding the responder’s exposures, hazardous work activities, concerns expressed by the responder or safety and health personnel, the adequacy of control measures and appropriate adherence, and injuries and illnesses incurred during the deployment. Such information should be viewed in the context of the worker’s’prior physical and mental health status and the extent of their prior knowledge and experience with disaster work.

Post-event tracking of health may be difficult or costly to conduct on a case-by-case basis, and it is often more suitable for such decisions to be made for categories of responders with similar exposure histories. High-priority worker groups for post-event health tracking would include those most likely to have exposures to hazardous agents or conditions and those reporting outbreaks of similar adverse health outcomes.

Tools & Resources


Lessons-learned and After-action Assessments

3 people conducting an assessment

At the conclusion of an event, there is a need to assess the emergency response through each phase (pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment) to identify ways to improve processes and outcomes throughout. Assessments ensure that the best possible practices are used, that mistakes are identified, and measures are taken to prevent issues during the next response. This is often accomplished through a document called an “After Action Report” or a similar name. Documenting deficiencies in communications of safety and health protocols, examining the tasks and timing of exposures, and noting when rostering was ineffective, helps organizers improve the safety of the environment and protects emergency responders during an emergency.

Tools & Resources

TOP