APRIL 2, 2015
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has
updated its guide for protecting health care and social service workers from
workplace violence, the agency said Thursday.
The revised publication, “Guidelines for Preventing
Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers,” updates OSHA's
1996 and 2004 guides with recent data and suggestions for implementing a
written program for workplace violence prevention, the agency said in a
statement.
According to the updated guidelines, a written program for
workplace violence prevention “offers an effective approach to reduce or
eliminate the risk of violence in the workplace.” Such a program should include
management commitment and employee participation; a worksite analysis; hazard
prevention and control; safety and health training; and recordkeeping as well as
a program evaluation.
“Cooperation between workers and employers in identifying
and assessing hazards is the foundation of a successful violence prevention
program,” the guide states.
More than 70% of assaults on workers that resulted in
injuries in 2013 occurred in health care and social service settings, OSHA's
statement says, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Health care and
social service workers are nearly four times more likely to be injured as a
result of violence than the average private sector worker, according to Bureau
of Labor Statistics data.
“It is unacceptable that the people who dedicate their lives
to caring for our loved ones often work in fear of injury or death,” Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels said
in the statement.
“This updated booklet will help employers implement effective
measures to reduce or eliminate workplace violence hazards.”
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April 2, 2015
WASHINGTON — In 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported more than 23,000 significant injuries due to assault at work.
More than 70 percent of these assaults were in healthcare and social
service settings. Health care and social service workers are almost four
times as likely to be injured as a result of violence than the average
private sector worker. To reduce the risk, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration today released an update to its Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers*.
The publication includes industry best practices and highlights the
most effective ways to reduce the risk of violence in various healthcare
and social service settings.
"It is unacceptable that the people who dedicate their lives to caring for our loved ones often work in fear of injury or death," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "This updated booklet will help employers implement effective measures to reduce or eliminate workplace violence hazards."
The revised guidelines - which update OSHA's 1996 and 2004 guidelines - incorporate research in the last decade into the causes of workplace violence on healthcare and social service settings, risk factors that accompany working with patients or clients who display violent behavior, and the appropriate preventive measures that can be taken, amid the variety of settings in which health care and social service employees work. The guidelines also stress the importance of developing a written workplace violence prevention program. The program should include management commitment and employee participation, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training, and recordkeeping and program evaluation.
More information on violence prevention in all workplace settings is available on OSHA's Workplace Violence Web page.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov
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April 2, 2015
OSHA updates guidance for protecting healthcare
and social service workers from workplace violence
and social service workers from workplace violence
"It is unacceptable that the people who dedicate their lives to caring for our loved ones often work in fear of injury or death," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "This updated booklet will help employers implement effective measures to reduce or eliminate workplace violence hazards."
The revised guidelines - which update OSHA's 1996 and 2004 guidelines - incorporate research in the last decade into the causes of workplace violence on healthcare and social service settings, risk factors that accompany working with patients or clients who display violent behavior, and the appropriate preventive measures that can be taken, amid the variety of settings in which health care and social service employees work. The guidelines also stress the importance of developing a written workplace violence prevention program. The program should include management commitment and employee participation, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training, and recordkeeping and program evaluation.
More information on violence prevention in all workplace settings is available on OSHA's Workplace Violence Web page.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov