Prevention of Workplace Violence in Healthcare and Social Assistance

Workplace violence against employees providing healthcare and social assistance services is a serious concern. Evidence indicates that the rate of workplace violence in the industry is substantially higher than private industry as a whole. OSHA is considering whether a standard is needed to protect healthcare and social assistance employees from workplace violence and is interested in obtaining information about the extent and nature of workplace violence in the industry and the nature and effectiveness of interventions and controls used to prevent such violence. This RFI provides an overview of the problem of workplace violence in the healthcare and social assistance sector and the measures that have been taken to address it. It also seeks information on issues that might be considered in developing a standard, including scope and the types of controls that might be required.