Antonio Delgado: “I want to first thank my colleague, Congressman Courtney, for his leadership on this bill, the Workplace Violence…”

“I want to first thank my colleague, Congressman Courtney, for his leadership on this bill, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. This is long overdue legislation to protect our Nation's caregivers, including nurses and physicians and many others who dedicate their lives to healing. Workplace violence is far too common in facilities that are supposed to be places of rehabilitation, treatment, and therapy. Last year the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that healthcare and social service workers were over four times as likely to suffer a serious injury from workplace violence than workers in other sectors. The legislation we are considering today would make an important improvement in workplace safety by defining workplace violence as any act or threat of force against an employee that could result in physical injury, psychological trauma, or stress and ensure that OSHA and employers develop and implement comprehensive and workplace- specific plans to prevent such violence. These plans will not only protect employees but also keep patients, visitors, and those in medical facilities out of harm's way. We all deserve to feel protected in hospitals and social service settings, and this bill would accomplish that.…”