UNAC/UHCP Members Lead the Charge at Cal/OSHA Hearing on Workplace Violence in Hospitals

February 2015

If you don’t believe workplace violence in hospitals is an issue, you may want to ask the thousands of nurses and health care workers who signed a petition to Cal/OSHA urging them to put regulations in place to protect workers as soon as possible. Sign the petition here

Dozens of UNAC/UHCP health care professionals participated in a hearing by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, on February 5 regarding draft regulations to protect health care workers. UNAC/UHCP members testified about the impact workplace violence has had in their lives.

RN Elizabeth Hawkins was one UNAC/UHCP member who testified about the proposed regulations, saying, "I don’t blame the patient who hurt me. I was injured by my hospital's policies. If there had been a workplace violence prevention plan in place when I was attacked, I think I would have felt prepared to deal with what came next. It’s reassuring to know that Cal/OSHA is taking a proactive approach to protecting health care workers from aggressive and violent behavior.”

Cal/OSHA is working to write and enact strong workplace protections for health care workers. These regulations may become a model for how the rest of the country handles this pervasive issue.  For those who haven’t already signed the petition urging Cal/OSHA to fast-track regulations protecting health care workers, click here to sign.

UNAC/UHCP members spoke with NBC 4 News yesterday while at the hearing. Check out St. Francis RNs Rosa Carcamo and Scott Byington, and UNAC/UHCP VP Denise Duncan, RN, as they explain why workplace violence is a serious problem.