A lot of times we look at faulty machinery, dangerous chemicals, or some other piece of equipment that poses a threat to workers, and employees should do their best to protect workers from those harmful agents. But what if the cause of danger is not the machines they work with- but the man?

Employees of the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter say that their employer is not doing enough to protect them from the sometimes violent patients that they take care of. They say that, according to federal safety regulations, their workplace is unsafe and the employer has not done its part to protect them. They have also not provided for employees who have been injured and can no longer do their job.

In August the facility earned a $4,900 fine from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration because they did not shield their employees from violence. Since then, the hospital has disputed this fine and said they need more time to implement a proper prevention program and build/enhance a facility that would lead to safer work conditions.

A statement from the deputy commissioner of the Department of Human Services, Anne Barry, said they respect the protest of the workers and are working to make the hospital safe for them. Workers said that there were over 90 injuries to the staff last year that sent them to the hospital, and 58 were reported to OSHA. An audit of the facility says that their rate of injuries is one of the highest in the state and far exceeds the national averages.

In 2011 there were 32 injuries to staff but in 2012 there were far more, maybe as a result of the hospital’s initiative to try and cut their use of restraints or isolation on patients. Representatives from the staff say that though they understand the reasoning behind curbing restraint use and they feel compassionate towards the patients, sometimes physical intervention is the only way to avoid a serious assault. They say maybe they could look into applying these restraints more therapeutically.

It sounds like these workers want to do what is best for their patients but also what is best for their safety. I hope that the employees and employer can come together to fix this problem and move forward.