AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler on the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1309) passing the House today:
Health care and social service workers, especially women, are at greatest risk of violence on the job because they are on the front line as our caretakers. This bill is about protecting their lives, and every single senator should follow the House’s lead and be clamoring to vote for this critical, life-saving legislation.
The labor movement has long been leading the efforts to gain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protections for front-line workers that would reduce preventable injuries due to workplace violence. Currently, there is no federal OSHA workplace violence standard, and the Trump administration has failed to take action. It’s critical that the Senate take action now.
Workplace violence, the third-leading cause of death on the job, is a serious and growing problem for workers in America. One of every six workplace deaths is from workplace violence. And workplace violence also is responsible for more than 30,000 serious, lost-time injuries for workers each year. Enough is enough. Now is the time to protect front-line workers from assaults and keep them safe at work.
Contact: Gonzalo Salvador (202) 637-5018