Workplace Safety and Violence Prevention

Workplace safety impacts the nursing workforce and patient care.

What impact workplace safety in Connecticut

1. Connecticut Laws

   1. Summary of laws: Connecticut Workplace Violence in Health Care - Summary of laws

   2. Public Act No. 24-29 (SB 1 2024) Healthcare Homecare Worker Safety

   3. Public Act 11-175 (SB 970 2011) Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Settings

2. 
   

   

   2. Federal Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

   OSHA Publication : Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers Includes information on workers rights, checklists, analysis and hazard identification and more.

   1. OSHA Worker Rights and Protections | Occupational Safety and Health Administration - this page provides an overview of workplace safety and health rights and whistleblower rights.

   2. Healthcare - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)  This healthcare topic page provides a very large amount of information about common safety and health issues in healthcare, including workplace violence.

   3. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

      Workplace Violence Prevention Resources

   4. Workplace violence prevention

   5. worker well-being

   6. worker safety

   
   

3. Hospital Accreditation Standards

   JACHO Workplace Violence Definitions and Standards:

   “An act or threat occurring at the workplace that can include any of the following: verbal, nonverbal, written, or physical aggression; threatening, intimidating, harassing, or humiliating words or actions; bullying; sabotage; sexual harassment; physical assaults; or other behaviors of concern involving staff, licensed practitioners, patients, or visitors.”

   January 2022 Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements

   1. Hospitals manages safety and security risks

   2. Hospitals collect information to monitor condition in the environment (investigating safety and incidents, including WPV)

   3. Staff participate in ongoing education and training (WPV prevention program)

   4. Leaders create and maintain a culture of safety and quality throughout the hospital

      
      

4. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

   CMS issues a memo late 2023 directing inspectors of hospitals to ensure workplace violence prevention policies were in place and followed.

    

   
   

3. American Nurses Association

   1. Types of WPV https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/state/workplace-violence2/

      
      

   2. Actions related to Reporting Workplace Violence https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/work-environment/endnurseabuse/endabuse-issue-brief-final.pdf

      
      

   3. ANA Position Statement on Workplace Violence