Healthcare workers are exposed to many safety and health hazards. Data indicate that healthcare workers are at high risk for experiencing violence in the workplace. In 1999, the Bureau of Labor Statistics identified a rate of 8.3 assaults per 10,000 workers in the healthcare industry. This rate is much higher than the rate of non-fatal assaults for all private sector industries, which is two per 10,000 workers. The prevention of workplace violence has emerged as an important safety issue in and around hospitals and other healthcare facilties.

Regulation & Policy

• Workplace Violence in health care settings - WISHA Regional Directive (WRD 5.07)
• Chapter 49.19 RCW - Safety health care settings
• Chapter 72.23.400 RCW - Violence Prevention in State Psychiatric Hospitals
  

Resources

These links will help you develop a program to prevent workplace violence.

• Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Services . OSHA Publication 3148-01R (2004). This guide describes the special considerations surrounding workplace violence in the environments of health care and social services (Also available as a 168K pdf file).
• Workplace Violence in Hospitals DHHS (NIOSH) Pub No. 2002-101
  The purpose of this brochure is to increase worker and employer awareness of the risk factors for violence in hospitals and to provide strategies for reducing exposure to these factors.
• Outline for Security Measures for Home Care. This outline was created by Affiliated Health Services of Bellingham, Washington and is an example of one policy developed by an employer. Content should be evaluated for the circumstance in which it may be applied.
  ( NOTE:   To open and print this .DOC format file you will need Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 or another program that can open these types of files.  If you have an earlier version of Microsoft Word (i.e. Word for Windows 95 or Word 6.0), you can view these files by downloading the free Word 97 Converter for Word 6 and 95 on Microsoft's Web site.   If you don't have Microsoft Word, you can download the free Word 97/2000 viewer on Microsoft's Web site.  There's a 16-bit version (for Windows 3.1 users) and a 32-bit version (for Windows 95/98 or NT 3.51 or later) available.)
• Workplace Violence: Can You Close the Door On It ? The American Nurses Association addresses some issues relating to workplace violence.
• Preventing Workplace Violence.  A union representative's guidebook with an appendix on health care workers, among other occupation sectors (AFSCME publication).
• Violence prevention in Hospitals - A downloadable Powerpoint presentation (57 KB) developed by WISHA services.

How can I get help from L&I?

• To request a confidential workplace safety or health consultation, call or visit http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Basics/Assistance/Consultation/about.asp for no charge technical assistance.
• For help with controlling your claims costs, call or visit http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Basics/Assistance/Consultation/riskmanagement.asp for a no charge risk management consultation.
• Find information about filing a workplace safety & health complaint you may call or visit a local L&I office to file a complaint.
• Follow guidance in Steps To a Safe Workplace to create your safety program from scratch.
• For general information, call 1-800-423-7233.