Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MRVAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Courtney for the time.

First, I include in the Record this letter of support for H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, written by Thomas Conway, the International President for the United Steelworkers. United Steelworkers, March 24, 2021. Re United Steelworkers supports H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the 850,000 members of the United Steelworkers (USW), I am urging you to support the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195).

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace violence in health care and social service settings was a growing and ever-present threat to workers. While helping patients fight against the virus, these workers, who repeatedly put their lives on the line to ensure the health and wellbeing of others, have had to face a continued rash of assaults and violent attacks.

According to data from the Department of Labor, healthcare employees are four times more likely to experience workplace violence than others in the private sector. And those in a hospital setting are nearly six times as likely as other workers to be the victim of an intentional injury. It is clear that these essential workers need protection against violence on the job. They need an enforceable OSHA standard to prevent workplace violence and ensure the safe working environment that they all deserve.

H.R. 1195 would compel OSHA to issue a workplace violence prevention standard that requires health care and social services employers to develop and implement comprehensive plans to protect workers from violence in the workplace. The requirements are based on existing guidelines and recommendations from OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), industry associations, and state measures and ensure that there are workplace-specific plans in place to protect workers.

Violent, serious, and life-altering incidents should never be part of the job. In order to begin curbing this epidemic of preventable workplace violence, our health care and social service workers need an enforceable OSHA standard that addresses violence in the workplace in a comprehensive manner.

Our union urges you to support the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195). Sincerely, Thomas Conway, International President.

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Mr. MRVAN. Madam Speaker, I appreciate that we are taking action today to support and defend these frontline workers, our healthcare and social workers, who selflessly have chosen their professions in order to serve others, and who, at the same time, experience rates of violence 12 times higher than other workers.

The United Steelworkers letter just inserted into the Record importantly noted that violent, serious, and life-altering incidents should never be a part of the job, and that in order to begin curbing this epidemic of workplace violence, our healthcare and social service workers need an enforceable OSHA standard that addresses violence in the workplace in a comprehensive manner.

There is a difference between punishment and safety, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critically important legislation for these invaluable workers.

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