Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act
Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act
Plain Language Summary
# Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act This bill would require the Department of Labor to create new safety standards for health care workers, social service workers, and similar professions to protect them from workplace violence. If passed, employers in these sectors would be required to develop violence prevention plans, investigate violent incidents when they occur, and train employees on safety procedures. Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities would need to follow these standards to continue receiving Medicare funding. The bill primarily affects workers in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and social service agencies—professions where workers frequently encounter at-risk individuals and face higher rates of assault and threats than many other industries.
It places responsibility on employers to implement preventive measures and respond to incidents systematically. Currently, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.
CRS Official Summary
Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers ActThis bill requires the Department of Labor to address workplace violence in health care, social service, and similar sectors.Specifically, Labor must issue an occupational safety and health standard that requires certain employers to take actions to protect workers and other personnel from workplace violence. The standard applies to employers in the health care sector, in the social service sector, and in sectors that conduct activities similar to those in the health care and social service sectors. Among other elements, the standard must require each employer to (1) develop a workplace violence prevention plan, (2) promptly investigate incidents of workplace violence, and (3) provide relevant training and education to employees. The bill requires certain hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to comply with this standard as a condition of Medicare participation.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.