{"id":134032,"date":"2025-12-13T13:43:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T13:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/?p=134032"},"modified":"2025-12-13T13:43:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T13:43:30","slug":"workplace-violence-prevention-for-health-care-and-social-services-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-ca\/blog\/the-workplace-violence-prevention-for-health-care-and-social-services-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Services Act"},"content":{"rendered":"
Nearly three quarters of all non-fatal workplace violence incidents in the
\nUS<\/a> involve healthcare workers. A new Bill introduced to the Senate directs OSHA to issue a new standard that will help prevent violence within health and social care. <\/p>\n

Understanding H.R. 1195 \u2013 what does it mean for employers?<\/h2>\n

The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Services Act, also known as H.R. 1195, has been passed to the Senate, bringing with it new legislative requirements for
\nemployers.<\/p>\n

Launched in response to soaring rates of violence within the health and social care sectors, the Bill directs the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a new standard requiring
\nall employers within these industries to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans.<\/p>\n

Healthcare workers are \u2018bearing the brunt of a broken health care system\u2019<\/h2>\n

The Act proposes to tackle long standing issues with violence and intimidation within health and social care.<\/p>\n

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in the health care and social service industries are 5 times more likely to suffer a workplace violence injury<\/a> than workers overall.<\/p>\n

From 2016 to 2020 there were 207 employee deaths due to violence<\/a> in the health care
\nand social assistance sectors.<\/p>\n

Non-physical violent events are also prevalent. In 2020, threat, sexual harassment and verbal abuse against nurses occured at a rate of 38.8 incidents per 100 employees<\/g>. In reality, even more incidents are likely to go
\nunreported. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are bearing the brunt of a broken health care system\u201d says NNU President Jean
\nRoss<\/a>. \u201cThe violence is just getting worse. We are not willing to take it any longer.\u201d <\/p>\n

If passed, The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Services Act<\/a>
\nwill require, by law, that measures are taken by employers to reduce the violence experienced by employees in health care, social service, and other related sectors.<\/p>\n

New Workplace Violence Prevention Standard<\/h2>\n

The Bill will require employers to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans that protect employees such as nurses, physicians, social workers and emergency responders.<\/p>\n

The proposals within the
\nBill<\/a> are comprehensive, including:<\/p>\n