OSHA's response to employee risk for workplace violence in psychiatric hospitals

The director of OSHA's Office of Occupational Health Nursing will describe how OSHA responds to cases of workplace violence in psychiatric hospitals. She will describe the characteristics of these setting that put employees at risk and the OSHA inspection process. The presentation will address what OSHA looks for when inspecting a facility for workplace violence, including identification of data that would support a violence-related citation under OSHA's general duty clause (since OSHA has not issued a standard specific to workplace violence). Discussion of the process will emphasize best practices such as employee training, administrative practices, environmental changes and other controls that are effective in reducing workplace violence.