When workplace violence affects the lab
Violence is a serious safety and health hazard in many workplaces. We saw a gruesome example of this last week with the death of a Yale graduate student that police are citing as workplace violence.
Most labs are isolated from the general public. Violence often takes place at the draw sites where the phlebotomist interacts with the public. It also may occur when disgruntled or fired workers enact revenge. Employees’ family members or friends can also become violent over a home situation and retaliate at work.
OSHA believes that employers can benefit from an examination of their workplaces to determine if violence is a hazard for their employees. For example, a laboratory director could fashion a prevention plan appropriate for his or her facility, based upon the hazards and circumstances of the particular situation, by using these five basic elements:
- Management commitment and employee involvement
- Worksite analysis
- Hazard prevention and control
- Safety and health training
- Evaluation
OSHA has resources that offer more information for employers to help prevent injury and death on the job. To learn more about workplace violence issues, visit OSHA’s Workplace Violence Safety and Health Topics page.
To download two free downloadable workplace violence prevention tools, visit the Tools section.
Also, take this week’s poll about violence prevention policies in your workplace.
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Terry Jo Gile
Terry Jo Gile, MT(ASCP), MA Ed.,The Safety Lady® has more than 40 years experience as a certified medical technologist. As president of her own consulting firm, Safety Lady LLC, she is a world renowned speaker and consultant who helps organizations create safety savvy laboratories. Click the links to visit her Web site and her blog.
Terry Jo has written 49 posts.
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