WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM

Transcription

1 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM The Hamilton Eye Institute at The University of Tennessee 930 Madison Avenue Memphis, Tennessee The Hamilton Eye Institute at The University of Tennessee Page 1 of 6

2 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM I. General A. In order to provide a safe workplace for our employees and to comply with OSHA Standards under the General Duty Clause [Sect (5)(a)(1)], your employer is instituting a Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) on August 29, Workplace violence has become one of the leading causes of fatal outcomes in the workplaces of the United States. Health care and social service workers are at a significantly higher risk of being injured in the workplace than other types of workers. However, the risks attendant to your work in the offices of the Hamilton Eye Institute, UTMG Ophthalmology, and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Department of Ophthalmology, are substantially lower than those in other health care settings. B. Your employer, Hamilton Eye Institute, UCH Ophthalmology, or The University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Department of Ophthalmology, is committed to providing a safe workplace for its employees. To that end the management supports a "clear policy of zerotolerance of workplace violence, verbal and non-verbal threats, and related actions." C. The Hamilton Eye Institute, UCH Ophthalmology, and The University of Tennessee - Department of Ophthalmology, are instituting a comprehensive WVPP and are committed to educating and training its employees to, in as much as possible, prevent violence in our workplace. D. Employees will have a major role in effectively implementing this program. Prompt reporting of incidents of workplace violence by employees is encouraged, and the employer welcomes suggestions from employees concerning problem areas. The Hamilton Eye Institute at The University of Tennessee Page 2 of 6

3 II. Written Plan A. A copy of the Emergency Action Plan may be accessed from your computer terminal. Written copies are available in the office of William R. Morris, MD in Room 475 of the Hamilton Eye Institute. Access to the written plan on the internet is at: B. The OSHA Coordinator, William R. Morris, MD, is responsible for the overall implementation of the WVPP. In his absence, the Deputy OSHA Coordinators will be Debbie Joyner and Sue Wilson. Questions or suggestions regarding the plan should be directed to your individual office OSHA deputy or to the OSHA Coordinator. C. A survey of injury records of UCH - Ophthalmology offices revealed no incidents of injuries related to workplace violence. No employees have had fatal workplace outcomes in these offices. III. Hazard Prevention A. Engineering 1. In view of the extremely low incidence of workplace violence in our offices, engineering controls such as bulletproof glass, metal detectors, alarms, and other devices are not felt to be required. 2. Locks are provided for every office, and adequate lighting of parking lots is present. B. Administrative 1. Employees shall report ALL incidents of workplace violence, verbal and non-verbal threats, and related actions. 2. Employees should not walk to their automobiles after dark alone. The "buddy system" should be used whenever possible. 3. Employees should not work in the offices alone before or after office hours if possible. If after hours work is required, the doors to the office should be locked, and entrance granted only to persons known to the employee. The Hamilton Eye Institute at The University of Tennessee Page 3 of 6

4 4. The employee MUST know the phone number of the security office, police department, etc. appropriate to their particular office. These numbers are: Hamilton Eye Institute - UT Security - call Memphis Police call 911 or Germantown Office - Germantown Police - call C. Post-incident Follow-up 1. In the event of an incident of workplace violence, adequate treatment of employee injuries received will be handled through the usual procedures for workplace injuries. 2. Other follow-up examinations, counseling, etc. will also be provided by the employer. IV. Training A. "Universal Precautions of Violence" should be taught to ALL employees. This principle states "violence should be expected but can be avoided or mitigated through preparation." B. The training for the WVPP will be held at the same time other annual OSHA training is accomplished. C. Training records and Employee Confirmation Forms will be kept with other OSHA training records. D. Additional information may be obtained from OSHA R The Hamilton Eye Institute at The University of Tennessee Page 4 of 6

5 V. Recordkeeping A. Injuries from workplace violence will be reported to the employee's supervisor, and the prescribed UCH or UT work-related injury forms completed. These injuries will then be recorded on the OSHA 200 forms for the respective institution if required. B. Incidents that occur but in which there is no injury involved will be reported to the employee's supervisor and to the OSHA Coordinator. Evaluation of these incident reports will be used to modify the WVPP as needed to deal with situations peculiar to the Hamilton Eye Institute, UCH Ophthalmology, and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Department of Ophthalmology, workplaces. C. Training records including the subjects discussed the name and job description of attendees, the training and qualifications of the trainer will be kept with other OSHA training records for the duration required. VI. Incidents A. As this is a new office location, no incidents have been recorded within the last year. B. No incidents have been reported during the period of January through June C. No incidents have been reported during the period of July 2006 through June Therefore, no change in the Workplace Violence Policy was deemed necessary at this time (June 2007). D. No incidents have been reported during the period of July 2007 through June Therefore, no change in the Workplace Violence Policy was deemed necessary at this time (June 2008). E. No incidents have been reported during the period of July 2008 through June Therefore, no change in the Workplace Violence Policy was deemed necessary at this time (June 2009). F. One incident in which a patient threatened a physician and resident occurred. Security was involved. No change in Workplace Violence Policy was deemed necessary at this time (June 2010). The Hamilton Eye Institute at The University of Tennessee Page 5 of 6

6 G. No incidents have been reported during the period of July 2010 through June Therefore, no change in the Workplace Violence Policy was deemed necessary at this time (June 2011). H. No incidents have been reported during the period July 2011 through June Therefore, no change in the Workplace Violence Policy was deemed necessary at this time (June 2012). I. One incident of theft from the purse of an employee by a patient was reported. No violence was involved. Campus Police were called. No change in the Workplace Violence Policy was deemed necessary due to this incident. (June 2013) J. No incidents were reported from July 2013 through June Therefore, no (June 2014). K. No incidents were reported from July 2014 through June Therefore, no (July ). L. No incidents were reported from July 2015 through June Therefore, no (July ). M. No incidents were reported from July 2016 through June Therefore, no (July 10, 2017). The Hamilton Eye Institute at The University of Tennessee Page 6 of 6