OSHA (Occupation Safety and Health Administration) views workplace violence as a major occupational risk. In response to this risk, OSHA may install additional safety standards to combat workplace violence. Over the last decade, the number of workplace violence instances has grown significantly. These instances have continued to increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA has prioritized protecting healthcare staff and patients.
Rational for Potential New OSHA Standard
OHSA currently lacks a workplace violence safety standard. Despite this, OSHA prioritizes the safety of healthcare professionals. Employers are required to provide a place of employment that is safe and free of known risks. In 2017, OSHA published a directive with information about how to respond to complaints of workplace violence towards healthcare employees.
What is this New OSHA Standard Going to Contain
OSHA will begin to conduct consultations regarding workplace violence prevention. This will protect healthcare workers. This new standard would require healthcare employers to develop a plan to protect staff and patients from workplace violence. Employers would be required to provide training for staff and keep records of instances of workplace violence incidents.
Proper training and preparation are essential to protecting staff and patients when an incident of workplace violence may occur. It is important to review existing measures and assess how well they function in one of these instances. As the number of instances of workplace violence continues to grow it is necessary to have a plan and prepare.
Get Certified
American Medical Compliance (AMC) is a leader in the industry for compliance, billing, and HR solutions. Learn more about protecting your health organization against workplace violence by taking our Violence in the Workplace for Healthcare Providers course today. Visit https://americanmedicalcompliance.com/ for more information.
Reference
Ogletree Deakins (3 March 2023). Is an OSHA Workplace Violence Standard for the Healthcare Industry on the Way? Retrieved from: https://ogletree.com/insights/is-an-osha-workplace-violence-standard-for-the-healthcare-industry-on-the-way/
