Healthcare workers exposed to excessive violence

General Duty! A lot of my professional time is spent researching, training, and educating professionals on the risks, warning signs, and resources needed to avoid or respond to workplace violence. Saying there is nothing we can do is NOT acceptable. Take this case for example... "Employees at the UHS of Delaware Inc.-Wekiva Springs Center LLC – operating as Wekiva Springs Hospital – endured regular and often intense incidents of workplace violence: reports of 182 alleged incidents in 2022, nearly 70 percent of which required police response in a six-month period, and 10 alleged violent incidents in less than two months in late 2022."

Managers (and business owners) have to realize that while workplace violence is difficult to predict, it is your responsibility to do something. OSHA's General Duty clause states that all employers must provide a work environment that is "free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm." Workplace violence is a recognized hazard and employers have the responsibility to address the concern. Here are 5 basic actions you can take today!

1. Recognize the problem... and talk with your employees about their concerns.

2. Establish a reporting system that employees trust and will use.

3. Secure your facility and periodically check for areas of improvement. (ie. backdoors that are often left unlocked or lights that have burned out in the parking lot)

4. Run background checks before hiring ANYONE!

5. Train your staff and management team. Training can include how to recognize workplace violence (there are many forms), how to report it, what to do in the case of an emergency, and how to support others who are coping with WPV.

More information can be found at my website, www.hr-safety.com. Contact me today to learn more about training and safety programs.

#workplaceviolence #employeesafety #humanresources