Solutions for Hospital Violence

Keep an eye out for the progress made to pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, currently being stewarded through the U.S. House of Representatives under the bill, H.R. 1195.

If passed, the legislation would require the Secretary of Labor to issue an interim final standard on workplace violence prevention that requires employers in the health care and social service sectors to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan based on guidelines published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2015.

Experts from the American Hospital Association (AHA) support guidelines tailored to the unique needs of hospitals. AHA objects to expedited hearings and notes that hospitals have already implemented specifically tailored policies and programs to address workplace violence, making the OSHA standards required by H.R. 1195 unwarranted for hospital and health systems.

Having to follow conflicting and contradictory laws and policies only further stretches the limited funding available to keep safe those working in and visiting health care facilities.