OSHA Issues Hazard Alert Letter to Boston Hospital
The letter comes as the nurse’s union calls for improved hospital security.
Brigham and Women's Hospital was the site of a fatal hospital shooting last year that left a doctor dead.
Federal safety officials have given a Boston hospital a list of ways it can improve security after a doctor was killed last year.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected Brigham and Women’s Hospital following calls from the nurse’s union to make changes, according to myfoxboston.com.
The nurse’s union chair claims there’s been more assaults on nurses in the past year than ever before and said hospital workers feel less secure since a doctor was killed in the hospital on January 20, 2015.
In that incident, a doctor was fatally shot by a disgruntled relative of a patient who had been treated at Brigham and Women’s.
RELATED: Patient Assault of 2 Nurses Prompts Union to Demand Improved Security
OSHA’s letter acknowledged that the hospital doesn’t violate any safety standards and that hospital officials have put programs in place to deal with workplace violence.
But the letter also gave the hospital 14 recommendations to decrease the threat of workplace violence.
The letter’s recommendations included ensuring doors are locked after business hours; ensuring card access equipment is operational; investing in metal detectors to keep weapons out; improved security officer staffing; and improved safety training for hospital workers.
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
