The House passed a bill to improve violence prevention for healthcare and social service workers, who are disproportionately at risk of violence and assault on the job.
The bill, H.R. 1309, passed 251-158. It would require hospitals and other healthcare employers to write and implement violence prevention plans to better protect employees. The standards for the violence prevention plans would be set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
"Workplace assaults against nurses, healthcare professionals and social service workers occur more often than in any other profession," said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., who introduced the bill. Healthcare workers face up to 12 times more violence than American workers overall, according to a study conducted in 2016 by the Government Accountability Organization.
"These are some of the same people we depend on to take care of us when we need it most, and they shouldn't have to fear for their own lives while they're at work trying to save ours," Mr. Courtney said in a press release.
The Senate must now debate and vote on its companion bill.
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