BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined Brookdale Hospital $78,000 for failing to protect its employees from patients and visitors.

In its report, OSHA cited numerous unsafe conditions in the workplace, including an incident in which a patient repeatedly kicked a nurse in the head. The nurse suffered brain damage as a result, Capital New York reports.

The report noted that the facility’s workplace violence program was ineffective, as many employees are unaware of its purpose, specifics or existence.

OSHA fined the hospital $70,000 due to the unsafe conditions. The hospital was fined the additional $8,000 for failing to correctly review and certify the OSHA 300A illness and injury reporting form and for not providing forms when requested by the authorized employee representative.

In a statement, hospital officials said they “absolutely disagree” with OSHA’s finding that Brookdale Hospital willfully violated regulatory requirements.

“We will work through the review process available to employers to correct whatever misinformation led OSHA to issue this citation, but more importantly, we will partner with OSHA to continue improving on our safety and security programs to ensure we provide a safe workplace for our staff and a safe environment for the delivery of the world class health care that our patients deserve,” the statement said.

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