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776 Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare
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Violence Prevention Programs

OSHA Guidelines for Health Care

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Guidelines for Health Care and Social Service Workers offer an excellent framework for thinking about the challenges of workplace violence prevention.

Image of OSHA logo.
OSHA guidelines for safety and health programs can include violence prevention programs.

OSHA's five major elements of an effective workplace violence prevention program are:

  1. Management commitment and employee involvement;
  2. Worksite analysis;
  3. Hazard prevention and control;
  4. Safety and health training;
  5. Recordkeeping and program evaluation.

It is important to understand that these guidelines are intended to help organizations implement effective workplace violence prevention programs; they are not enforceable regulations. However, OSHA's regulatory authority derives from the General Duty Clause.

Program Goals

The goal is to eliminate or reduce worker exposure to conditions that lead to death or injury from violence by implementing effective security devices and administrative work practices, among other control measures.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-1. OSHA's regulatory authority regarding workplace violence prevention is derived from _____.

  • 29 CFR 1910.1200
  • The General Duty Clause
  • CDC/NIOSH regulations
  • The Constitution