Health workers face many hazards on the job, particularly hazards due to workplace violence. Unfortunately one psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts failed to correct a hazard that Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors found in a previous inspection and received a notification for failure to abate a violation that involved workplace violence.

UHS of Westwood Pembroke, Inc., operating as the Lowell Treatment Center, has about 130 workers and acts as a psychiatric hospital for inpatient or partial hospitalization of patients. On May 19, 2015 inspectors found a serious violation and on April 12, 2016 the center and OSHA entered into a Formal Settlement Agreement as a result. This outlined provisions of a workplace violence prevention program including measures to reduce the likelihood of violent behavior to staff, training and educating staff on the workplace violence prevention program, an annual review of the program, supplying ample communication devices to staff, identifying patients who had a history of assaulting staff members and more.

OSHA conducted a follow up inspection on January 5, 2017 when the center did not produce documentation showing it had indeed implemented this program, and the area OSHA office had received whistleblower complaints that employees were at risk. Inspectors found that workers were still at risk of serious harm or even fatal injury, and issued the company one repeat violation and three other-than-serious violations. They are facing fines of $207,690. They plan to contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Read the OSHA release here