Centennial Peaks Hospital Did not shield nurses, technicians from bodily abuse
LOUISVILLE, CO – An administrative regulation decide in Denver has affirmed the findings of a U.S. Division of Labor office shieldedty investigation that decided a Louisville acute inpatient psychiatric remedy facility uncovered direct care staff – Similar to nurses and psychological well being technicians – to aggressive sufferers who frequently assaulted and critically injured them.
Following an inspection associated to a December 2018 grievance of office violence, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited UHS of Centennial Peaks LLC – which operates as Centennial Peaks Hospital – for exposing staff to office violence hazards. The 104-mattress behavioral well being hospital, which provides acute inpatient hospitalization, medical cleansing and intensive outpatient packages for adolescents and adults, contested the Might 2019 citations to the unbiased Occupational Safety and Health Consider Fee. The movement led to a two-week trial in September 2021.
On July 14, 2022, Administrative Law Judge Patrick Augustine affirmed OSHA’s citation And located that OSHA’s proposed abatement measures have been possible and would materially scale again the office violence hazard. The abatement measures included The subsequent:
- Implementing a full office violence prevention program.
- Teaching staff on the office violence prevention plan.
- Offering staff with reliable communication models, Similar to radios and/or private panic alarms.
- Reconfiguring the nurses’ stations To cease sufferers from Getting into simply and assaulting staff inside.
- Making sure that models are staffed adequately to deal with aggressive and escalating sufferers extra shieldedly.
- Conducting submit-incident debriefings and investigations To reinforce future responses to circumstances involving aggressive sufferers.
The decide additionally affirmed OSHA’s $10,229 penalty.
“Staff at behavioral well being facilities are entitled to work with out fear of violence from sufferers,” said Regional Solicitor John Rainwater in Denver. “Sadly, UHS of Centennial Peaks Did not fulfill its obligations, Ensuing in its staff struggling assaults and critical accidents By the palms of aggressive sufferers.”
That is the second favorable choice upholding office violence citations at a UHS-owned facility in Colorado. One case is pending after a two-week trial in Colorado Springs.
“The Occupational Safety and Health Consider Fee’s choice – like others earlier than it – holds UHS accountable for implementing possible, Widespread sense measures Which will make An exact distinction in maintaining shielded these staff who carry out extremely important and difficult work,” Rainwater added.
Beneath the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are Responsible for providing shielded and well beingful offices For his or her staff. OSHA’s position is To Guarantee these circumstances for America’s workers by setting and implementing requirements, and providing training, education and assist.
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Source: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20220808-0