Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Healthcare and Social Service Workers Act.

A few years ago, two workers in Oregon were tragically wounded in a workplace stabbing at an organization that provides essential support services to youth who are facing addiction, homelessness, and behavioral health issues.

Following the incident, Oregon AFSCME members organized to improve difficult working conditions that were compromising the quality of services for vulnerable clients as well as the safety of employees.

Unfortunately, the experience of these workers is too common. According to a November 2018 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social service workers face a disproportionate risk of on-the-job violence and injuries.

The workers in Oregon, and healthcare and social service workers across the country, need evidence-based workplace violence prevention plans tailored to the needs of the populations they serve. That is why I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 1309, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Courtney.

Healthcare and social service workers help to care for our families, friends, and loved ones. Today, we have the chance to support their well-being in the workplace.

Madam Chair, I include in the Record a letter in support of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act from the National Association of Social Workers.

Good morning: We are writing today to encourage your boss to vote to approve H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which is scheduled to come to the House floor for a vote next week. This bipartisan legislation is instrumental in promoting safer working conditions for millions of social workers, nurses and other similar professionals who experience unacceptably high levels of violence on the job.

The National Association of Social Workers represents the interests of over 750,000 social workers nationwide who are employed in wide variety of settings, including hospitals, community clinics, schools and correctional facilities among others. Many social workers provide services outside the four walls of an office, such as in family homes.

As you may know, healthcare and social service workers are nearly five times more likely to be assaulted at work than other professionals, and the rate of violence is growing. Between 2007 and 2017, the rate of violent injuries grew by 123% in hospitals, 201% in psychiatric hospitals and substance use treatment facilities, and 28% in social service settings. The costs of this violence are high: in injury rates, in professionals being driven from doing the work they love, in workers' compensation claims and staff shortages. Workplace violence is also highly problematic for patients. Safe environments are healing environments.

Currently, there is no federal enforceable violence prevention standard covering healthcare and social services and federal guidelines do not cover those working in public facilities. H.R. 1309 would require hospitals, residential treatment facilities, substance use disorder treatment centers, clinics at correctional or detention facilities, and other service facilities to develop and implement comprehensive violence prevention plans and provide whistle- blower protections for workers. These commonsense plans can be customized to reflect the unique safety needs and concerns of each setting.

When the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act comes before your boss for consideration, we urge your boss to support its passage.

Thank you for your consideration and please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Dina L. Kastner, MSS, MLSP, Senior Field Organizer, National Association of Social Workers.

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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