Oregon AFSCME Applauds Passage of Workplace Violence Prevention Bill
PORTLAND, OR—Earlier this week, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which demands the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issue a workplace violence prevention standard requiring employers within the health care and social service sectors to develop and implement a plan to protect their employees from workplace violence.
In response, Oregon AFSCME Council 75 Executive Director Stacy Chamberlain issued the following statement:
"Oregon AFSCME Council 75 members provide services to protect, strengthen and improve communities across Oregon, doing so despite the physical danger they face every day they go to work. Across Oregon, AFSCME members provide vital services to adults and youth who are dealing with addiction, homelessness and behavioral health issues. These members and the work they do deserve respect - fundamental to that respect is safety on the job. As dedicated caregivers, Oregon AFSCME members need policies to ensure practices that provide a safe place to care for people who have experienced trauma to heal and to ensure staff safety. A sure way to do this is to develop and implement, as H.R. 1309 requires, an evidence-based workplace violence prevention plan, tailored to specific workplaces and populations. The bill also creates an OSHA standard, because voluntary guidance is insufficient.
We applaud the tireless efforts of Rep. Suzanne Bonamici to highlight this important issue and advance H.R. 1309 through the House. We celebrate the passage of this bill as a major step forward in ensuring that workers are protected and urge the Senate to take this bill up."
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