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Last week, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) released frequently asked questions that address some questions raised as health care employers continue to prepare for full implementation of the health care workplace violence prevention regulations beginning April 1. As discussed in previous articles, while some requirements went into effect on April 1, 2017, the majority of the regulations’ requirements take effect April 1, 2018.
The frequently asked questions include information on the regulations’ scope, as well as recording and reporting obligations. CHA has engaged Jeff Tanenbaum, partner at Nixon Peabody, to provide a white paper that includes several issues that not addressed in the FAQs. The white paper should be ready for distribution prior to April 1.
Cal/OSHA has also released its first annual report based on workplace violence incidents reported by hospitals from July 1, 2017, through Sept. 30, 2017, as required by Labor Code section 6401.8(c). Because the start date for hospitals to submit their reports to Cal/OSHA was July 1, 2017, this initial report only covers data from a three-month period; subsequent annual reports will be based on reporting from the preceding 12-month period of Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
During the period analyzed in the current report, Cal/OSHA received a total of 2,177 incident reports from 257 hospital facilities. The report lists the names of hospitals that reported at least one incident, and indicates that Cal/OSHA did not complete any inspections related to violent incidents at hospitals or issue any citations. However, Cal/OSHA suggested that some inspections are ongoing; those outcomes will be reported in the 2017/2018 annual report available in January 2019.
Hospital staff should save the date for CHA’s annual Hospital Employee Safety and Workers’ Compensation Seminar, to be held April 4 in Sacramento and April 10 in Costa Mesa, which will include a morning session devoted to the workplace violence prevention regulations. CHA staff will provide a brief update on developments, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from their colleagues about promising practices, and Cal/OSHA staff will hold a question and answer session. Registration will open soon.
