Violence Prevention Program Components
Hazard Prevention and Control
Implement engineering and work practices to prevent and control identified hazards.
Traditionally, a prioritized "Hierarchy of Controls" (HOC) has been used to implement feasible and effective exposure controls to protect workers. We encourage the use of the HOC as described within the ANSI/ASSP Z10, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, to control hazards. Example strategies are discussed below.
- Provide better visibility and good lighting, especially in areas of high risk such as the pharmacy area or in isolated treatment areas.
- Implement safety measures to deter handguns inside the facility.
- Use of security devices such as panic buttons, beepers, surveillance cameras, alarm systems, two-way mirrors, card-key access systems, and security guards.
- Place curved mirrors at hallway intersections or concealed areas.
- Provide training for staff in recognizing and managing hostile and assaultive behavior.
- Provide adequate staffing even during night shifts. Increase staffing in areas where assaults by patients are likely (e.g., Emergency Department).
- Ensure accurate reporting of all violent behavior.
- Make patients aware of the zero-tolerance policy for violence.
- Establish liaison with police authorities and contact them when indicated.
- Obtain previous records of patients to learn of any past violent behaviors.
- Establish a system to chart or track and evaluate possible assaultive behaviors, including a way to pass on information from one shift to another.
Interim Measures
Using a lower priority hazard control method over another higher priority control strategy may be appropriate for providing interim (temporary) protection until the hazard is abated permanently. If you can't eliminate the hazard entirely, the interim control measures will likely be a combination of control methods used together. OSHA believes that feasible interim measures are always available if higher-level control methods are not possible.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-5. Placing curved mirrors at hallway intersections or concealed areas is an example of what?
You forgot to answer the question!