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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
09/26/2024 01:01 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=13116
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: July 17, 2013 04:22 PM
From: Representative Nicholas A. Micozzie
To: All House members
Subject: Health Care Facilities Workplace Violence Prevention Act
 
I will soon be introducing legislation to create a workplace violence prevention program in health care facilities in the Commonwealth.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health defines workplace violence as any physical assault, threatening behavior or verbal abuse occurring in the workplace. Violence includes overt and covert behaviors ranging in aggressiveness from verbal harassment to murder. (NIOSH 1996)

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare sector is the leading industry for physical workplace violence. In fact, from 1993 to 1999 approximately 765,000 assaults occurred against healthcare workers and from 2003 to 2009, 8 registered nurses were fatally injured at work. In addition, in 2009, there were 2,050 assaults and violent acts reported by RNs requiring an average of four days away from work. These nonfatal assaults and violent acts included injuries inflicted by patients or residents such as hitting, kicking, biting, scratching, etc. Further, in 2009, the Emergency Nurses Association reported that more than 50% of emergency department nurses had experienced violence by patients on the job and that 25% of emergency department nurses had experienced 20 or more violent incidents in the past three years.

To date, 8 states have enacted legislation to provide for a workplace violence prevention program, study of the issue or reporting of incidents. Twelve states have enacted legislation to strengthen penalties for acts of workplace violence affecting nurses.

This legislation is a proactive approach to prevent violent acts against nurses in health care settings. If you would like to join me in cosponsoring this legislation, please contact my office.

NOTE: This is a reintroduction of similar language that was introduced last year in HB 1992.



Introduced as HB1746


Memo Updated: July 17, 2013 04:23 PM