Violence occurring in the workplace is more prevalent in the healthcare industry than in any other industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers accounted for 73% of all non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in 2018 alone (the most recent year for which these statistics are available). In addition, workplace violence has also been linked to a reduction in the quality of patient care in an essential field already stressed by the reduction of qualified healthcare professionals due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sixty-six percent of members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) responding to a 2024 internal survey said they have personally experienced violence in their workplace – that’s up from 50% in 2021. Seventy-two percent of respondents said their hospital or facility does NOT do a good job of protecting them from workplace violence.
As such, with these alarming statistics in mind, we intend to reintroduce legislation that will create the Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention Act. Our legislation does the following:
- Requires a health facility to establish a workplace violence prevention committee that will create, review, administer, and provide guidance on programs relating to the prevention of workplace violence at Commonwealth healthcare facilities.
- Defines workplace violence as the violence or threat of violence against an employee.
- Requires facilities to provide paid time off for employees serving on the Violence Prevention Committee.
- Requires the Violence Prevention Committee to perform a risk assessment and provides that an outside consultant may be utilized at the facility’s expense to conduct the risk assessment.
- Requires the Workplace Violence Prevention Committee to meet quarterly to review all cases of workplace violence and to perform duties as required.
- Requires facilities to offer post-incident care including acute care and mental health services for employees.
- Protects employees and other healthcare providers by enhancing protections against retaliation for employees while discouraging the filing of complaints made in bad faith.
- Requires facilities to display signage indicating that assaulting a healthcare worker is a felony.
It is important to note that an overwhelming percentage of respondents to the PASNAP survey support the Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention Act. Consequently, we have a duty to ensure that the healthcare workers of this great Commonwealth are afforded a safe, violence-free workplace where these heroes can work and perform their duties without the fear of bodily harm or fear for their personal safety.
To that end, please join us by co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Takesha Latham in Rep. Krueger’s office via email at tlatham@pahouse.net.