2021: Schweikert Voted Against Requiring All Healthcare Employers And Healthcare-Related Employers To Implement Workplace Violence Prevention Plans. In April 2021, Schweikert voted against 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: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Workplace Violence Prevention For Health Care And Social Service Workers Act. In April 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert 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: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Workplace Violence Prevention For Health Care And Social Service Workers Act. In April 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert 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: Schweikert Voted For 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, Schweikert voted for 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: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Require The Labor Department To Launch A Workplace Violence Prevention Educational Campaign During The Rulemaking Process. In April 2021, Schweikert voted for 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]