OSHA Inspection: STCT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS

Issued

Apr 17, 2012

Abate by

Jun 25, 2012

Penalty

Initial $490

General-duty citation text

31-372-101
Section 31-370(a) of the Connecticut Occupational Safety and Health Act:
The employer did
not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards
that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
employees, including but not limited to Buildings and Grounds Officers,
were exposed to the
hazard of being assaulted and threatened by patiens/residents and
employees:
Location:
(A)STCT Department of Veterans' Affairs
(1)Buildings and Grounds Officers were exposed to the hazard of being
assaulted and threatened by patients/residents and employees who
exhibited disruptive behavior, inlcuding but not limited to, assault,
attempted assault, making threats, acting aggressively while intoxicated,
and disorderly conduct.
Feasible and useful abatement methods must include:
*Implementing a specialized training program regarding the prevention and
management of disruptive, aggressive, and suicidal behaviors for all
Buildings and Grounds Officers.  Such training may be modeled after the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs "Prevention and Management of
Disruptive Behavior" training program and should address topics
including, but not limited to, identifying aggressive behavior,
deescalating
situations where aggressive behavior is being exhibited, verbal/non-verbal
intervention skills, personal safety skills, and passive defense skills.
*Providing refresher training at a frequency necessary to ensure Buildings
and Grounds Officers maintain the knowledge and skills needed to
perform their job duties safely.
Other feasible and useful abatement methods may include:
*Developing a policy which defines circumstances under which Buildings
and Grounds Officers should not transport patients/residents.
*If transport is necessary under those circumstances, providing an
additional, trained staff member to accompany the transporting Buildings
and Grounds Officer or  consider providing vehicles with a separation
barrier between the driver and the patient/resident.
*Reinforcing to all patients/residents and employees the Department's
policies and procedures regarding workplace violence and that violence is
not permitted or tolerated.
*Insofar as feasible, consistently enforcing the Department's policies and
procedures when violent or aggressive acts are committed by
patients/residents or employees.
*Providing training similar to that received by Buildings and Grounds
Officers to other Department employees at a level appropriate to their job
duties.