Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/704847
17 Workplace Violence Protections • Training for all employees working in the facility, unit, service, or operation, including temporary employees. The training, which emphasizes preventative measures, shall: » Address workplace violence hazards identified in the facil- ity, unit, service, or operation, the corrective measures the employer has implemented, and the activities that each employee is reasonably anticipated to perform under the plan. » Teach employees how to recognize the potential for violence, how to counter- act factors that lead to the escalation of violence, how to seek assistance to prevent or respond to violence, and strat- egies to avoid physical harm. • Include involvement of employees and their represen- tatives in developing training curricula and training materials, conducting training sessions, and reviewing and revising the training program. » Provisions protecting an employee's right to seek help from law enforcement when a workplace violence incident occurs. » A requirement for hospitals to document and report work- place incidents to Cal/OSHA, and for Cal/OSHA to post a report on its website containing a summary of this information. • Annual review of the Workplace Violence Prevention Plan which involves employees and includes an evaluation of the following: » Staffing, including staffing patterns and patient classifica- tion systems that contribute to, or are insufficient to ad- dress, the risk of violence. » Sufficiency of security systems, including alarms, emergency response, and security personnel availability. » Job design, equipment, and facilities. » Security risks associated with specific units, areas of the facility with uncontrolled access, late-night, or early morning shifts, and employee security in areas surrounding the facility, such as employee parking areas and other out- door areas. In 2015, Minnesota Nurses Association won a major victory, thanks to member activism. In just one legislative session, they were able to sponsor and pass the Violence Against Health- care Workers Law, requiring hospitals to create and imple- ment violence prevention plans. Massachusetts currently has a workplace violence prevention bill in its Legislature. Specifically, the standards adopted by Cal/OSHA will require all hospital workplace violence prevention plans to include: • Procedures to identify environmental and patient- specific risk-factors. • Procedures to correct workplace violence hazards, including engineering and work practice controls such as implementing adequate staffing, removal of sight and communication barriers, provision of surveillance systems, use of a buddy system, reconfiguration of facility spaces, removal or securing of objects that may be used as improvised weapons, installa- tion of alarm systems, and other effective means. • Procedures for post-incident response and investigation. • Procedures for effectively elicit- ing employee involvement in the development, implementation, and review of the plan. Protecting Nurses from Workplace Violence: NNU's Landmark Legislation in California