Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare: Washington HB 1162 and SB 5162

As demonstrated by the shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in PA on February 22, workplace violence in healthcare settings is a growing concern across the United States with profound implications if not adequately addressed. Healthcare workers are disproportionately affected by violent incidents due to the nature of their work, which involves high-stress environments and interactions with patients, visitors, and sometimes aggressive individuals. In response, Washington State has introduced House Bill 1162 (HB 1162) and its companion Senate Bill 5162 (SB 5162) to strengthen protections for healthcare workers and enhance hospital security. These legislative efforts aim to establish comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, ensuring that healthcare facilities take proactive steps to create safer environments.

Strengthening Hospital Security: Existing Requirements vs. New Additions

Under existing law, healthcare facilities in Washington are required to:

• Develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans every three years.
• Address security considerations, employee training, emergency response procedures, and risk factors contributing to workplace violence.
• Conduct annual reviews of workplace violence plans and adjust prevention strategies according to updated legislation or industry guidelines.

The new provisions introduced by HB 1162 and SB 5162 strengthen these existing requirements by mandating:

• Workplace violence prevention plans receive more frequent and structured updates. The bill’s current text recommends annual comprehensive reviews with updated legislation and industry guidelines and reports of incidents throughout the year, influencing any updates on the current plan.
• The establishment of workplace violence committees with an equal or greater number of employee-elected representatives compared to employer-selected representatives.
• Investigation and reporting requirements for every incidence of workplace violence, ensuring that healthcare settings analyze the type of incident and the effectiveness of the response, assess staffing levels at the time of the incident and implement corrective measures.
• Hospitals are to submit reports to these committees quarterly (or twice per year for critical access hospitals) with findings and recommendations to improve safety measures.

These new policies seek to hold healthcare organizations more accountable for preventing workplace violence and ensuring safer conditions for healthcare workers.

How These Bills Impact Workplace Violence Prevention

Should it be enacted, the proposed legislation could significantly improve healthcare facility security and workplace violence prevention efforts within Washington’s healthcare systems. The primary aim of this legislation is to advance preventive strategies and fortify security measures to reduce both the frequency and severity of violent incidents in healthcare settings.

Among the key features of this legislation is the requirement for more frequent risk assessments and incident investigations. This provision encourages hospitals to proactively identify vulnerabilities and implement tailored strategies that address their unique circumstances. Additionally, increased reporting helps create an environment that encourages employees who experience violence to come forward, ensuring they receive the support they need while also holding hospitals accountable for their security and safety measures and responses. Such transparency can lead to enhanced prevention and response strategies, improved access to intervention tools, reduced response times and more effective management of workplace violence incidents.

While these initiatives promise to improve safety and security, they also introduce certain financial and operational challenges. Compliance with the new requirements may necessitate investments in additional security personnel, training programs and incident tracking systems. Hospitals may also need to allocate more staff time to training and compliance efforts, which could strain existing resources. However, it is important to recognize that, over time, these measures may actually be profitable as they can lead to enhanced staff retention and improve recruitment success, as prospective employees are drawn to environments that prioritize robust workplace violence prevention policies.

Safety and Security Best Practices for Hospitals

Even if these bills fail to pass, healthcare facilities should proactively implement best practices to prevent workplace violence.

Recommended steps include:

1. Adopting Comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention Plans
   • Regularly perform risk assessments and update security measures.
   • Engage employees in safety planning and encourage reporting of incidents.
2. *Enhancing Security Infrastructure
   • Acquire panic button systems to improve response times.
   • Deploy an emergency notification system that can instantaneously notify key stakeholders of a serious incident and appropriate response protocols following the activation of a duress tool.
   • Ensure all critical communication tools can communicate with internal facility security and external 911 dispatchers and first responders.
3. Providing Regular Employee Training
   • Conduct de-escalation training to help staff identify signs of potential escalation and manage aggressive behavior.
   • Implement role-specific training programs tailored to different healthcare settings.
4. Strengthening Incident Reporting and Investigation
   • Develop a clear reporting process that ensures all violent incidents are documented and reviewed.
   • Use data from investigations to refine security strategies and staffing decisions.
5. Collaborating with Law Enforcement and Emergency Responders
   • Establish partnerships with local law enforcement agencies to enhance response capabilities and improve response efficiency and effectiveness.
   • Conduct joint training exercises to prepare for emergencies.

Next Steps

The introduction of Washington House Bill 1162 and Senate Bill 5162 marks a crucial cultural shift. The dedication to strengthening existing regulations demonstrates that both the legislature and Washington constituents recognize that workplace violence in healthcare is widespread, getting worse and not something that will resolve itself on its own. Whether or not these bills pass, it is imperative for hospitals and healthcare organizations to take proactive measures to protect their staff and stop incidents like the UPMC Memorial Hospital shooting from happening again. Workers and patients must feel safe and secure with the nation’s healthcare facilities to effectively provide treatment and heal.

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