2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require All Healthcare Employers And
Healthcare-Related Employers To Implement Workplace Violence Prevention
Plans. In April 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for the Workplace Violence
Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act which would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "require health care and social
service industry employers to develop and implement comprehensive
workplace violence prevention plans. It would require the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration to issue a final standard for such
plans, based on 2015 OSHA guidelines, within 42 months of enactment and
require employers to develop and implement such plans within six months
of the final standard being issued. It would require workplace violence
prevention plans to include certain procedures for reporting, responding
to, and mitigating risks of incidents of workplace violence, including
for employers to investigate and take corrective actions in response to
violent incidents. It would require employers to investigate any
workplace violence incident, risk, or hazard 'as soon as practicable.'
It would also require employers to develop and implement plans with
participation from employees and employee representatives; provide
annual training to employees exposed to workplace violence hazards and
risks; and maintain records related to workplace violence plans,
incidents, and response for at least five years. The bill's provisions
would apply to employers of individuals working in most health care
facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, and drug abuse treatment
centers, as well as employers of individuals providing related services,
including home-based health care or social work and emergency services."
The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 254-166.
The Senate did not take substantive action. [House Vote 118,
4/16/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/16/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1195]
The Bill Would Require Health Care And Social Service Employers To
Develop Workplace Violence Prevention Plans. According to The
Hill, "The House passed legislation Friday that would require
employers in the health care and social services industries to
develop workplace violence prevention plans." [The Hill,
4/16/21]
According To Some Studies, Health Care Workers Experience A
Greater Risk Of Workplace Violence. According to The Hill,
"Studies show that workers such as nurses, physicians, social
workers and emergency responders face a higher risk of on-the-job
violence." [The Hill,
4/16/21]
According To A 2018 Study From The Bureau Of Labor Statistics,
Health Care And Social Service Workers Are Five Times More Likely To
Experience Injuries From Workplace Violence. According to The
Hill, "The Bureau of Labor Statistics found in 2018 that the health
care and social services industries are five times as likely to
suffer workplace violence injuries." [The Hill,
4/16/21]
2018: Health Care Workers Were 73% Of All Nonfatal Workplace
Injuries Due To Workplace Violence. According to The Hill, "Health
care workers specifically made up 73 percent of all nonfatal
workplace injuries and illness due to violence that year." [The
Hill,
4/16/21]
Agitation And Workplace Violence Are Caused By High Levels Of
Stress From Patients And Their Families And Friends In Stressful
Environments Such As Hospitals. According to The Hill, "Settings
such as hospitals create high levels of stress for patients and
their families and friends, which can lead to agitation and
sometimes violence." [The Hill,
4/16/21]
Workplace Violence Can Be Caused From Health Care And Social
Service Employees Interacting With Individuals With Mental Illness
Or Who May Be Susceptible To Violence. According to The Hill,
"Health care and social service workers also at times come into
contact with people who are mentally ill and may be prone to
violence." [The Hill, 4/16/21]
Republicans Who Opposed The Bill Argued It Would Lead To A Hasty
Process And Too Expensive For Health Care And Social Service
Workplaces. According to The Hill, "Republicans in opposition to
the bill said that it would result in an overly rushed process and
prove costly for the workplaces covered by the proposed standard."
[The Hill,
4/16/21]
The Bill Would Have Instructed OSHA To Issue A Final Standard For
Workplace Violence Prevention Plan Within 42 Months Of Enactment And
Requiring Employers To Implement The Plans After Six Months Of
OSHA's Final Standard Is Issued. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "require the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration to issue a final standard for such plans, based on
2015 OSHA guidelines, within 42 months of enactment and require
employers to develop and implement such plans within six months of
the final standard being issued." [Congressional Quarterly,
4/16/21]
The Bill Would Require The Labor Department To Issue A Standard To
Require Health And Social Service Employers To Create Violence
Prevention Plans Within A Year And A Final Standard Would Be
Established Within Three And A Half Years. According to The Hill,
"The legislation would direct the Labor Department to issue an
interim occupational safety and health standard within a year to
require health and social service industry employers to create
comprehensive violence prevention plans. A final standard would have
to be established within three and a half years." [The Hill,
4/16/21]
The Bill Would Require Employers To Annually Report Violent
Incidents To The Labor Department. According to The Hill,
"Employers would also have to submit an annual summary of violent
incidents to the Labor Department." [The Hill,
4/16/21]
The Bill Would Have Provided Annual Trainings To Workers Exposed
To Workplace Violence Risks And Retained Records Of Plans And
Incidents For No Less Than Five Years. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "provide annual training to employees exposed to
workplace violence hazards and risks; and maintain records related
to workplace violence plans, incidents, and response for at least
five years." [Congressional Quarterly,
4/16/21]
The Plans Would Require Employees Who Are At Risk Of Violence
Exposure To Undergo Proper Training. According to The Hill, "As
part of the violence prevention plans, workplaces would have to
provide training to employees at risk of exposure to violence."
[The Hill,
4/16/21]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Workplace Violence
Prevention For Health Care And Social Service Workers Act. In April
2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against
the "adoption of the rule that would provide for House floor
consideration of [...] the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health
Care and Social Service Workers Act (HR 1195). The rule would provide
for up to one hour of debate on each measure and make in order
consideration of six amendments to HR 7 and six amendments to HR 1195."
The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by
a vote of 217-207. [House Vote 103,
4/14/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/14/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1195;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
303]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Workplace Violence
Prevention For Health Care And Social Service Workers Act. In April
2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against
the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and
possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 303) that would provide for
House floor consideration of [...] the Workplace Violence Prevention
for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (HR 1195). The rule would
provide for up to one hour of debate on each measure and make in order
consideration of six amendments to HR 7 and six amendments to HR 1195."
The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House
agreed to the motion by a vote of 217-208. [House Vote 102,
4/14/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/14/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1195;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
303]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment That Would Permit The
Labor Department Of Including A Phase-In Period For New Final Standards
Under The Rulemaking Process, Instead Of Issuing A Final Standard On
Violence Prevention Within 42 Months Of Enactment. In April 2021,
Fitzpatrick voted against an amendment to the Workplace Violence
Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act which would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "strike language requiring the
Labor Department, within 42 months of the bill's enactment, to issue a
final standard on workplace violence prevention. The amendment would
instead allow the department to include a phase-in period for any new
final standards under the standard rulemaking process." The vote was on
the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote
168-256. [House Vote 117,
4/16/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/16/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
41;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1195]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment That Would Require The
Labor Department To Launch A Workplace Violence Prevention Educational
Campaign During The Rulemaking Process. In April 2021, Fitzpatrick
voted against an amendment to the Workplace Violence Prevention for
Health Care and Social Service Workers Act which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "require the department to carry out a
workplace violence prevention educational campaign during its rulemaking
process." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House
rejected the amendment by a vote 168-256. [House Vote 117,
4/16/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/16/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
41;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1195]