Ohio lawmakers introduce health care worker anti-violence bill

Ohio could soon require hospitals and other health care settings to revamp their security and safety protocols to better manage the risk of workplace violence against workers.

H.B. 681, introduced Monday, would call on health care employers to develop and implement a plan to prevent workplace violence within three months of the bill’s enactment. The bill would require health care employers to review and make necessary updates to the plan at least every three years.

The plan must outline strategies to address security considerations and factors that may contribute to or prevent the risk of workplace violence. These include the physical attributes of the health care setting, such as security systems, alarms, and emergency response and security personnel available.

The facility must also consider staffing patterns, patient classifications and procedures to mitigate employee time spent working in areas at high risk for workplace violence, such as specific units or areas of the facility with uncontrolled access, late night or early morning shifts, and employee security in areas surrounding the facility such as parking areas.

The bill would call for an annual review of the frequency of incidents of workplace violence including identifying the causes and consequences of workplace violence at the setting and any emerging issues that contribute to workplace violence.