Napa Hospital Employees Fear New Alarm System Has Flaws
SAN FRANCISCO — A new alarm system was set to roll out this week at Napa State Hospital in response to multiple incidents of violence, including the strangulation death of psychiatric technician Donna Gross.
Staff will wear the alarms on lanyards around their necks, the Los Angeles Times reports. However, employees are concerned that the new alarms might be a hazard, as they could be used to strangle the wearer. The lanyards are equipped with a break away device, but this still leaves a length a lanyard that could be used as a garrote.
The area of the facility where Gross was killed has been on lockdown since her death. Cal/OSHA regulators planned to allow the patients to roam freely once the alarm system was in place.
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