Workplace Violence Prevention For Healthcare And Social Service Workers Act

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About

Employees in the health care and social service industries experience the highest rates of injuries caused by workplace violence of any industry. Going to work as a social worker, an emergency room nurse, or a psychiatrist shouldn't mean risking your physical safety. This legislation compels OSHA to do what employees, safety experts, and Members of Congress have been calling for years – create an enforceable standard to ensure that employers are taking these risks seriously, and creating safe workplaces that their employees deserve.

Learn more about my bill, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act below.

Click here for a Section by Section of the legislation.

Click here for a Fact Sheet on the legislation.

Background

Our nation’s caregivers – including nurses, social workers, and many others who dedicate their lives to caring for those in need – suffer workplace violence injuries at far higher rates than any other profession. In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that health care workers make up for more than three quarters of all workplace violence nationwide, and are almost four times more likely to suffer a serious injury from workplace violence than workers in any other workplace setting.

In 2013, Rep. Courtney requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study trends of workplace violence in the health care sector and identify options for OSHA to curtail it. In 2016, in response to the GAO report, Rep. Courtney and other members asked OSHA to develop a workplace safety standard to protect health care workers from this rising violence. Since then, Rep. Courtney has successfully led House passage of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act alongside a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the 116^th and 117^th Congresses. In the 117^th Congress, the bill passed with 254 votes, including 37 Republicans. Unfortunately, then-Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Republican House leadership failed to take up the bill in the 118^th Congress.

Support

AFL-CIO: "America’s health care and social service workers too often face brutal assaults on the job. This unacceptable violence is totally preventable when employers are held accountable through strong worker safety protections. Every worker deserves to go home safe and healthy at the end of their shift—especially the workers who provide critical care to us when we need it most. This bill would create deeply needed standards through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to protect our caretakers so they can work without fear, and the AFL-CIO is proud to support it,” said Liz Shuler, President of AFL-CIO.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT): “Workplace violence is a preventable scourge that impacts millions of frontline health care workers and their patients every day. Our nurses, health techs, social service workers and other professionals deserve much better than their current reality. They take care of us when we need them—and devote their careers to looking after the aging, the sick and the injured—yet they’re still, after all these years, fighting for basic, enforceable safety standards. That’s why the AFT launched our Code Red campaign to tackle violence, secure safe patient limits and improve the quality of care patients receive; and it’s why this bill is so crucial. I thank Rep. Joe Courtney and Sen. Tammy Baldwin for introducing this bill and urge its quick passage,” said Randi Weingarten, AFT President.

National Nurses United (NNU): “Nurses need federal lawmakers to take swift action to protect us and our patients from preventable violence. For years, employers have refused to work with us to implement workplace violence prevention plans and to address the staffing crisis that creates the conditions for workplace violence. Congress can support frontline health care workers by requiring employers to invest in proven measures to prevent violence in our workplaces. We applaud Rep. Courtney and Sen. Baldwin for reintroducing this critical legislation that will save so many lives. Studies have shown that the most effective way to reduce health care violence is to have a plan in place before violence occurs. Nurses across the country urge Congress to use its power to save lives and swiftly pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act,” said Nancy Hagans, RN and President of NNU.

Emergency Nurses Association: “Violence at work is something emergency department nurses are all too familiar with, and that shouldn’t be the case. For that reason, meaningful solutions that mitigate and reduce workplace violence in health care are long overdue. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act has been an ENA Legislative priority for years. Thank you to Sen. Baldwin and Rep. Courtney for their continued efforts to bring this legislation forward to help improve workplace violence prevention plans that keep the safety of health care staff and patients at the forefront,” said ENA President Ryan Oglesby, PhD, MHA, RN, CEN, CFRN, NEA-BC.

American Nurses Association: "No nurse should have to fear for their safety while caring for patients. Yet, workplace violence remains a persistent and escalating crisis in health care, putting both providers and patients at risk. We know that health care and social service workers are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall, and one in four nurses report being physically assaulted. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act is a necessary and urgent step toward ensuring that all health care professionals have the safeguards they need. We urge Congress to act now to pass this critical legislation and protect those who dedicate their lives to caring for others," said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association.

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union): “I want to thank Congressman Joe Courtney and Senator Baldwin for leading this very important piece of legislation intended to improve the safety and well-being of those tasked with our health and well-being. IAM Healthcare represents thousands of healthcare professionals across the nation. Worker safety equals patient safety, and the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Services Workers Act is a step in the right direction for ensuring these heroes are protected as healthcare corporations fail to implement effective violence prevention measures,” said Brian Bryant, IAM President.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW): “The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) strongly supports the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. Social workers and other frontline professionals face unacceptable levels of workplace violence, jeopardizing both their safety and the quality of care they provide. NASW is committed to ensuring that social worker safety is essential to strengthening the profession and sustaining vital services. This legislation takes critical steps by requiring employers to implement workplace violence prevention plans, conduct risk assessments, and provide training, protecting not only workers but also the communities they serve. No one should fear for their safety while delivering essential care. NASW urges swift congressional action to pass this bill and remains committed to advocating for strong protections that safeguard social workers and all frontline health and social service professionals,” said Dr. Anthony Estreet, CEO, National Association of Social Workers.

American College of Emergency Physicians: “Nearly every emergency physician has been assaulted or threatened on the job and the problem is only getting worse. Health care workers should be able to focus on saving lives without fearing for their safety. ACEP is deeply grateful to Rep. Courtney and Sen. Baldwin for their work to protect emergency physicians and ensure that we can continue to fulfill our promise to care for anyone, anytime.” said Alison Haddock, MD, FACEP, President. 

Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN): "I commend the introduction of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act in Congress. This legislation represents a critical step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of healthcare workers, particularly those in obstetrics and neonatal care, who face unique challenges in the workplace. Every healthcare worker deserves to feel safe and supported in their role, and this bill will help create a culture of respect and protection for those who dedicate themselves to providing exceptional care. We stand firmly behind this initiative and look forward to its passage, which will ultimately enhance the quality of care for patients and ensure a safer work environment for our dedicated healthcare professionals,” said Jonathan Webb, CEO.

Public Citizen: “Public Citizen congratulates Representative Joe Courtney and Senator Tammy Baldwin on the reintroduction of the “Workplace Violence Prevention for Healthcare and Social Service Workers Act.” The committed work of our physical and mental healthcare workers is invaluable to the wellbeing of our families and communities. Healthcare workers throughout the United States, often working long hours for limited pay, bear the brunt of understandable patient and family frustrations with a health care system that increasingly limits access to affordable health care. No worker should ever face violence at the workplace, especially not those laboring to care for our bodies and minds,” said Judy Fulcher, Public Citizen, Worker Health and Safety Advocate. 

Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health (PhilaPOSH)- “Fearing for your safety at work is not "part of the job" especially for those workers that are working to save the lives of others.  Fear, intimidation and violence are unacceptable in the workplace,” said Nicole Fuller, PhilaPOSH’s Executive Director.

Full List Of Endorsing Organizations: