The state government says it's pleased with progress made in improving health and safety standards for paramedics, despite union claims staff continue to struggle both physically and mentally.
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It comes after an IPC Consulting report, leaked to the ABC, showed Ambulance Tasmania was failing to meet legal obligations around workplace health and safety policies and procedures.
The report, commissioned by Ambulance Tasmania and released privately in November 2018, was aimed at identifying gaps in existing Work Health and Safety Management Systems against the Australian and New Zealand standards.
It made 47 recommendations and identified a number of "significant" WHS risks and issues that needed to be addressed as a priority.
They included compliance of emergency response systems; fatigue and workplace stress; WHS culture including implementation, compliance and support; and currency of the WHS risk register.
However, the report said under-resourcing would make it difficult to implement the changes.
An Ambulance Tasmania spokesperson said it was determined to tackle workplace health and safety issues on behalf of its employees, "which is why the report was commissioned".
"Immediate action was taken to address the highest risk areas in the 2018 report, with eight recommendations having already been actioned and completed, with 14 more due for completion by next month, and a further 15 in the first quarter of next year."
Ambulance Tasmania did not clarify what recommendations had been actioned.
When asked about the report on Wednesday Premier Will Hodgman said he was pleased to see the progress of a number of recommendations.
"It's been dealt with proactively and with a view to ensuring that our work force is safe, secure and supported as best they're able," he said.
"There's still more to be done. I am advised they are underway - those recommendations and the work around it."
The report stated fatigue and stress was frequently identified as the main risks to Ambulance Tasmania workers.
Health and Community Services Union state secretary Tim Jacobson said the findings were hugely alarming, but not surprising.
"This highlights the extent of a state government agency involved in the provision of emergency services, that is uncompliant in it statuary obligations around mental health," he said.
"We have no idea what's been actioned. They [government] might be pleased with progress on paper, but from our perspective ... we know the serious issues we have with ramping and demand.
"Ambulance Tasmania have very few resources and they have been repeatedly asked to cut the backline. The consequence is a report like this.
"Because the first thing that goes when cuts are made, are strategies to address long term safety issues."
Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said the report painted a distressing picture, expected to get worse under the government's $450 million budget cuts.
Mr Hodgman said the government was investing $125 million more into ambulance services, rejecting claims it was making cuts.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
