Rep. Payne, Jr. Votes to Protect Health Care and Social Workers from Workplace Violence

Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- (202) 225-3436 -- patrick.wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for a bill November 21st to require comprehensive violence prevention programs in our health care and social service facilities. Health care and social service workers are almost five times more likely to suffer a violent injury at work compared to other professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The bill would require these facilities to develop policies and procedures to identify safety risks and specify solutions to stop or at least decrease violence in the workplace. Once developed, facility officials would train employees on how to report and investigate a violent incident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would create the standards for these safety programs.

Congressman Payne, Jr. said the bill was critical to care for the workers who provide so much care for others.

"We need to protect the lifesavers we trust to protect our health and well-being," said Congressman Payne, Jr. "This bill would allow them more security at work, so they can help heal our injuries instead of suffering their own. I hope the Senate passes it quickly, so we can try to eliminate the violence these care givers suffer at work."

The bill, named the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1309), would address one of the greatest threats in our health care industry. Employees can suffer a rash of injuries while trying to provide care, such as patients of family members punching or kicking them on purpose or by accident during a traumatic event. Doctors, emergency-room staff and paramedics are the most at risk.

The situation has been called an epidemic and most health care employees have suffered or been witness to violent incidents already. Data shows that the rate of workplace violence grew 143 percent in hospitals, 149 percent in psychiatric hospitals and substance abuse treatment facilities, and 151 percent in social service settings in general. Currently, there is no enforceable federal standard that requires employers to adopt or implement a workplace violence prevention program.

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