Emergency Vehicle Decontamination: Regulations

Some workers can reasonably expect contact with blood or other body fluids that can carry disease. Their employers usually need a written exposure control plan under OSHA's bloodborne disease standard. That plan usually covers cleaning work surfaces and equipment, including vehicles. Review it with your safety officer or your state job safety agency.

Products sold to kill germs on surfaces usually must carry EPA registration. The label lists the germs they work on and the contact times that back up those claims. Your medical director or infection control officer should pick registered products that suit your needs. Check product claims right on the label. Do not rely on sales materials.

In many states, the EMS office that licenses ambulance services checks vehicle condition during inspections. That includes how clean the vehicles are. Some regions add oversight through medical directors or regional councils. Rules differ, so contact your state EMS office. Ask for its current vehicle standards and inspection checklist.

State EMS offices usually regulate licensed ambulances and sometimes other medical vehicles. They do not usually regulate patrol cars or fire engines. But worker safety and waste rules still apply to those vehicles when staff clean up blood or body fluids. Check with your state labor department and waste program about the rules for your police or fire fleet.

Have these on hand: your exposure control plan, crew training records, written cleaning steps, and safety data sheets for the disinfectants you stock. Inspectors often ask for a sample of cleaning logs for each unit. These show which rig was cleaned, when, by whom, and with what product. Waste hauler agreements and disposal records for used linens and needles may also come up. Filing these together by unit makes an inspection much easier.

Yes. Your local sewer utility usually sets them. Many utilities ban sending blood, disinfectants, or oils to storm drains. They may require a hookup to the sewer or a separator. Contact your utility before you design or change a wash area. Label drains so crews know which ones are safe to use.

In most agencies, the medical director and infection control officer choose, working within agency policy. They look at each product's registration and label claims. They check that it is safe on vehicle materials and medical devices and safe for the crews who use it. They also check whether its contact time is realistic between calls. Some state EMS offices publish guidance that shapes the choice. Keep the approved list current, dated, and posted in every station.