Healthcare workers face an alarming crisis of workplace violence that threatens both patient safety and workforce sustainability. According to recent analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care and social assistance workers experience the highest rates of workplace violence of any private industry sector from 2021-2022.¹ Public sector workers face even greater risks, with state government health care and social service workers being almost nine times more likely to be injured by an assault than private-sector health care workers.² These incidents cause physical and emotional trauma, often resulting in career-ending post-traumatic stress disorders that further weaken an already stretched healthcare workforce.

Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lacks the necessary tools to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence. There is no OSHA standard requiring employers to implement violence prevention plans, leaving healthcare workers vulnerable and OSHA with limited enforcement capabilities.³ The administrative process for creating new OSHA standards is lengthy, typically taking at least 7 years and sometimes up to 20 years for significant standards.⁴ The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act addresses this urgent need by providing comprehensive protections for healthcare and social service workers across the nation.

Specifically, this bill:

• Compels OSHA to issue an interim standard within one year and final standard within 42 months requiring employers to develop workplace violence prevention plans;
• Mandates risk identification, evidence-based solutions, and employee training programs;
• Requires systematic incident reporting and thorough investigations;
• Provides anti-retaliation protections for workers reporting violent incidents;
• Extends protections to public sector workers in 24 states not covered by current OSHA regulations;
• Incorporates proven prevention measures most effective when implemented before violence occurs; and
• Creates mandatory, enforceable workplace safety standards holding employers accountable.

Especially given the increased demand for health care and social workers, it is crucial to enforce standards that promote safe workplaces for our nation’s caregivers. This legislation provides the comprehensive framework needed to ensure that healthcare and social service workers can perform their vital work in safe environments.

Read the full text of the bill and contact your legislators today!

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, October 8). Workplace Violence 2021-2022. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/iif/factsheets/workplace-violence-2021-2022.htm.
2. Congressman Joe Courtney. (2025, April 1). Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.
3. Congressman Joe Courtney. (2025, April 1). Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.
4. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2012, April 2). Workplace Safety and Health: Multiple challenges lengthen OSHA’s standard setting. Workplace Safety and Health: Multiple Challenges Lengthen OSHA’s Standard Setting | U.S. GAO. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-12-330.