Work Place Violence

Pam Cant IH MS, Industrial Hygienist

Workplace violence causes a significant number of deaths and injuries in Washington and throughout the country. In 2010, workplace violence was the third leading cause of workplace deaths in Washington State.

Inspection Data

2004-2014 Labor and Industries /DOSH conducted approximately 49 compliance inspections

Resulting in approximately $130,000 in penalties

Assaults in NAICS 62 Between 1/1/09 - 9/30/2014

  # of ClaimsPaid-to-Date

Total Average Cost Per Claim

Assaults And Violent Acts By Person(s), N.E.C. 1988 $19,644,878 $9,881.73Biting 731 $871,753 $1,192.55

Assaults And Violent Acts By Person(s), Unspecified 517 $5,699,969 $11,025.09

Shooting 7 $123,481 $17,640.14Stabbing 6 $13,273 $2,212.17

Threats Or Verbal Assaults 2 $27,928 $13,964.00

Rape 2 $32,698 $16,349.00Assaults And Violent Acts, Unspecified 1 $345 $345.00

Total 3255 $26,414,325 $8,115.00

  # of Claims % of ClaimsFemale 2295 71%Male 960 29%

Total 3255  

Potential Risk Factors Working in isolation and after regular work

hours Lack of controlled access to worksite Customers with past violent behavior Potential weapons (such as scissors) easily

visible and accessible Lack of alternate escape route and quick

communication to security personnel

Statute, Regulations, and Directives

Violence Prevention in State Psychiatric Hospitals RCW 72.23.400.

Workplace Violence Prevention Law: Health Care Settings Chapter 49.19 RCW.

Statute, Regulations, and Directives

WAC 296-800-140, Accident Prevention

Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care: WRD 5.07

Chapter 49.19 RCWSAFETY — HEALTH CARE SETTINGS

"Violence" or "violent act" means any physical assault or verbal threat of physical assault against an employee of a health care setting.

Workplace Violence Plan

Workplace Security and Safety Assessment

Violence Prevention Training

Violence Act Records

Security and Safety Assessment

The physical attributes of the health care setting

Staffing, including security staffing Personnel policies First aid and emergency procedures The reporting of violent acts Employee education and training.

Violence Prevention Training

General/personal safety procedures, and workplace violence prevention plan

De-escalate and minimize violent behavior

Obtaining patient history from a patient with violent behavior

Restraining techniques (chemical and physical)

Documenting and reporting incidents

Debriefing process, and resources available to employees for coping with violence

Violence Prevention Training

Violent acts — Records.

The health care setting's name and address

The date, time, and specific location at the health care setting where the act occurred

The name, job title, department or ward assignment, and staff identification or social security number of the victim, if an employee

Records: a description of the: person against whom the act was committed person committing the act type of violent act any weapon used any body part injured number of employees in the vicinity of the act when

it occurred actions taken by employees and facility in response

to the act

Violent acts — Records.

Keep at least five years following the reported act

Make these records available to Labor and Industries for inspection upon request.

RCW 49.19.020 Workplace violence plan — Security and safety assessment

Failure to tailor the Accident Prevention Program (APP) to the workplace under WAC 296-800-14005.

Normally a serious violation with associated penalties

 

RCW 49.19.030Violence prevention training

WAC 296-800-14020 Accident Prevention Program (APP) Failure to tailor APP.

Usually a serious violation with associated penalties.

RCW 49.19.040Violent acts — Records

APP WAC 296-800-14005 and WAC 296-800-14025 failure to tailor your accident prevention program.

Recordkeeping violations are cited serious if it appears that the failure to keep records results in a failure to address serious hazards.

Resources and RCW.

Labor and Industries/DOSH http://www.lni.wa.gov/IPUB/417-140-000.pdf

OSHA https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/workplaceviolence/viol.html#saferroom

SHARP http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/default.asp#Violence

Ebola Updated

Safety and Health

Claims Information

Thank you

Pam Cant, IH, MS

Labor and Industries

edwp235@lni.wa.gov

(360)902-6457