Bill 117 HR 1195, also known as the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, aims to address the issue of workplace violence in the healthcare and social service industries. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 14, 2019 by Representative Joe Courtney.
The bill requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a standard that would require employers in the healthcare and social service industries to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan. This plan would include measures such as risk assessment, employee training, reporting and recordkeeping of incidents, and procedures for responding to and investigating incidents of workplace violence.
The bill also requires employers to provide training to employees on how to recognize and respond to workplace violence, as well as to establish a system for reporting incidents of violence. Additionally, the bill mandates that employers must provide support and assistance to employees who have been victims of workplace violence.
The bill has received bipartisan support in Congress, with proponents arguing that it is necessary to protect the safety and well-being of healthcare and social service workers who are at a higher risk of experiencing workplace violence. Critics of the bill have raised concerns about the potential costs and burdens that may be placed on employers to comply with the new requirements.
Overall, Bill 117 HR 1195 seeks to address the growing issue of workplace violence in the healthcare and social service industries by requiring employers to take proactive measures to prevent and respond to incidents of violence.