Campaign for a Comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention Standard for Healthcare Workers in California

This presentation describes the ongoing California Safe Care Standard campaign to win a comprehensive and enforceable California OSHA workplace violence prevention standard for healthcare workers. In February 2013, the Service Employees International Union Local 121RN and the SEIU Nurse Alliance of California,,co-leaders of the campaign, petitioned the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to promulgate a standard. During the prior year, SEIU conducted extensive internal and external organizing to educate and and mobilize front-line healthcare workers and union leaders for the campaign, including an extensive use of social media.  SEIU conducted a survey of healthcare worker experience with workplace violence and gathered many personal stories for use in the campaign and in public hearings. The Board accepted the petition in June and began stakeholders meeting in September to develop draft language for a standard.  During the months of stakeholder meetings, the campaign continued mobilizing healthcare workers.  The campaign also gained support from outside of the healthcare workforce – from patient advocates and community organizations.  Public hearings are expected during the summer of 2015 and a final standard could be enacted by the summer of 2016.