“NURSES SHOULD not have to suffer broken bones and concussions to spur action against workplace violence. Unfortunately, at Arbour-HRI psychiatric hospital in Brookline, it took that level of violence for the federal government to investigate and levy a fine”

“Serious violence is four times more common in health care than private industry on average, OSHA reports. Legislation filed last month by the Massachusetts Nurses Association would help prevent assaults at every hospital in the Commonwealth. The bill would require health care employers to perform annual risk assessments, implement programs to minimize violence, provide time off for assaulted workers to address legal issues, and regularly report assaults.”

The legislation filed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association shares some of the key requirements of other workplace violence legislation in the US including the well publicised *Cal/Osha Section 3342. In both cases there is an urgent need for improved risk assessment, annual reviews, better workplace violence prevention planning and a legal requirement for the reporting of incidents to protect others from re-occurrence.

GuardianMPS share these views and we are committed to promote a culture of safe working environments for all unaccompanied and lone workers in healthcare and beyond.