Writing Homework Help

Visit the OSHA website and locate Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers (www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf (Links to an external site.)).  Comment on why these guidelines came into existence, scope of the problem, risk factors and assistance programs available.

OSHA’s mission is to prevent workplace violence for healthcare and social services workers. OSHA created guidelines to eliminate or reduce workplace violence in a broad spectrum of healthcare fields. “These guidelines reflect the variations that exist in different settings and incorporate the latest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of violence in the workplace” (OSHA, 2016, p.1). Healthcare employees work in a stressful environment that may put them in significant risk of job-related violence. “From 2011 to 2013, health care workers suffered 15,000 to 20,000 workplace violence injuries-nearly as many as all other private industries combined… Moreover, researchers estimate that up to two thirds of violent incidents in healthcare go unreported (Surber, 2021, p.829). The risk of workplace violence is heightened because healthcare workers are in a potentially stressful and scary environment. Healthcare workers care for patients and their families at a very vulnerable time. This can lead to outbursts and violent attacks due to the large amount of stress they are perceiving. “Pain, devastating prognosis, unfamiliar surroundings, mind and mood altering medications and drugs, and disease progression can also cause agitation and violent behaviors (OSHA, 2016,p.4). Working in healthcare can be unpredictable at times, and this can lead to becoming a victim of workplace violence. It’s important for healthcare workers to protect themselves and recognize potential risk factors related to workplace violence. Examples of workplace violence risk factors include setting-related and organization risk factors. Setting-related risk factors may include healthcare workers that work in high crime areas, working in an area alone, or working in areas that are poorly lit or poorly designed areas that put the employee at a great risk of injury. Organizational risk factors include inadequate security personnel, overcrowding, understaffed employees, and inadequate employee training. OSHA identified violence prevention programs to eliminate or reduce workplace violence. OSHA incorporated five building block assistance programs which include, “Management commitment and employee participation, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training, and recording keeping and program evaluation” (OSHA, 2016,p.5).

OSHA, also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created in 1971 as a way to prevent the occurrence of workplace injury and illness. According to the OSHA website, “OSHA was created because of public outcry against rising injury and death rates on the job. Through the years the agency has focused its resources where they can have the greatest impact in reducing injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace” (OSHA, n.d.). Almost any job comes with some sort of risk factors, however, nursing is an occupation where there is a high risk for injury whether that be from something like using improper lifting techniques or being assaulted by a patient. In an article published by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, it states “The RN rate of 12.7 violent events per 10,000 full-time workers is about three times greater than for all occupations (3.8 cases per 10,000 workers)” (Jones, 2021). I had always heard that nursing can be a risky profession, because some patients may be violent, but I did not personally realize how dangerous it could be until I completed my clinical rotation on the psych floor. When I was there, we were told to always watch our back, and that we always had to watch what we say so we do not trigger one of the patients. I came to realize why there are specific guidelines that must be followed to prevent injury. You never know if you are going to be the person who encounters a violent situation or acquires a workplace injury from something that could have been preventable. OSHA has violence prevention programs that aim to bring an end to workplace violence. These programs are structured in a way that provides constant reassessment for improvement in workplace safety.