New advice on workplace violence for healthcare workers

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued new guidance to better protect those working in health and social care from workplace violence.

Risk Management News

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The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued new guidance to better protect those working in health and social care from workplace violence. The agency’s figures show that from 2011-2013 there were up to 25,630 annual incidents involving assaults in the workplace with up to three quarters being in the health and social care sector. Many of the attacks result in serious injuries and of the 100 fatalities that occurred in 2013 in the sector, 27 were due to violent acts according to the Bureau of Statistics. Perhaps unsurprisingly those working with gang members and drug abusers are at the highest risk of violence along with those who work alone and visit patients in their homes or transport them. OSHA said that there should be risk assessments conducted by employers to identify potential issues; written programs should be created to prevent or control the risks; and employees should be adequately trained in how to protect themselves. The law requires that employers provide health and safety guidelines to their employees. Read the full story.
 

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