Workplace violence: OSHA updates guidelines

More than 23,000 employees sustained significant injuries because of violent incidents at work in 2013. More than 70 percent of these injuries were a result of attacks on healthcare workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its 1995 and 2004 editions of Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers to help employers implement best practices that reduce or eliminate risks of violence.

The revised guidelines include new research into the causes of workplace violence, risk factor and offers preventive measures to curbing assaults. The guidelines also recommend developing a written program to prevent workplace violence. An effective program should include management commitment and employee participation, an analysis of the workplace, hazard prevention/control, safety training and recordkeeping along with a program evaluation.

“It is unacceptable that the people who dedicate their lives to caring for our loved ones often work in fear of injury or death,” Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels, MD, said in a release.

Visit OSHA’s Workplace Violence online page for more information on preventing these occurrences.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.