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Public
Employee Press Workplace violence DC
37 pushes for state regulations
DC 37 activists and staff recently urged the state Dept.
of Labor to adopt a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program for public
employees.
After issuing proposed regulations for the prevention program
last year, the DOL sought responses Jan. 20 and Feb. 3 at hearings in Albany.
Representatives from locals 420, 371, 1549 and DC 37 testified, marshaling evidence
about the critical need for the program.
Our members know the level
of violence, said Carl Jones, health and safety coordinator of Municipal
Hospital Workers Local 420, whose members work in frontline positions throughout
the citys public hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. According to
the U.S. Labor Dept., health care and social service workers are five times more
likely to be victims of a violent assault than other workers.
Principal
Program Coordinator Guille Mejia of DC 37s Safety and Health Dept. reminded
state officials that, Too often, doing their jobs can put city workers at
risk for violence. After many injuries and tragically, deaths, and many years
of voicing our concerns, we are now close to implementing regulations for a comprehensive
prevention program.
Mejia voiced concerns about omissions in the
regulations, such as the failure to require counseling for victims of workplace
violence. As a model, she pointed to the bloodborne pathogen standard, which directs
employers to provide counseling for employees exposed to potentially contaminated
blood or bodily fluids.
She also pointed out that the regulation does not
address the role of domestic violence, which often intrudes into the workplace.
She said employers should be required to work with unions in drafting workplace
violence prevention plans. This input is essential, said Mejia.
Since
every day that goes by without a regulation leaves members at risk, DC 37 supports
the adoption of the regulations as soon as possible and plans to address the omissions
through legislation. We look forward to the expeditious promulgation of
the Public Employee Workplace Violence Prevention regulation and to implementing
effective programs throughout the city, said Mejia.
Other DC 37 representatives
who participated in the hearings included Social Service Employees Union Local
371 Health and Safety Rep Deborah Williams and Ron Arnero, Kenny Mulligan and
Alvin Williams for Local 1549 and the Clerical Division. | |