Violence Management
violence management
______strives to maintain a working environment free from violence and intimidation. Workplace violence and threats of violence will not be tolerated. Weapons are prohibited in all hospital facilities. Violent acts and/or threatening behavior may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination and/or legal action.
For the purpose of this policy, workplace violence is defined as written, oral, and/or nonverbal threats of bodily harm or intimidation and physical assault and/or battery, whether committed by or against an employee, medical staff member, volunteer, patient, visitor, or vendor on hospital property.
Examples of workplace violence include written, oral, or physical threat to harm; physically touching another in such a way that is unwelcome and/or with intent to cause distress or injury; approaching or threatening another with a weapon; and causing or attempting to cause injury or intimidation to another person.
Emergency Situations Requiring Police Intervention
If the violence is of such a nature that serious bodily harm is imminent or likely, a call is to be placed directly to the ______Police Department (9-1-1). These incidents include situations involving weapons or extreme force that by its nature would inflict serious bodily harm. As soon as practical after notifying the police, notify Security so that they can respond and assist as well.
Emergency Situations Not Requiring Police Intervention
In emergency cases within the main hospital that require Security response but where making a direct call to Security is dangerous or impractical because the threat is still present, use the “doctor strong” emergency code. Call 1-1-1-1 and announce that you require immediate assistance. This will summon assistance without placing you at further risk by announcing the nature of the crisis.
General Procedures for all Incidents
In instances where there is not imminent serious bodily harm or the incident has passed or occurred over the telephone, contact Security to file a report. Employees must notify their supervisor or manager of any occurrence in their work area as soon as possible. All incidents must be reported to the Security officer on duty.
All reported incidents of workplace violence will be investigated by the Security Department for location, persons involved, and any other necessary criteria in order to monitor trends and design a more effective program of security for our employees, patients, visitors, volunteers, and medical staff.
Complaints of violence, assault, threats, and intimidation are taken seriously and are promptly investigated with reasonable steps to protect the safety and confidentiality of all persons involved.
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
The hospital may apply to a local court to obtain a TRO to protect either the entire workplace or an individual employee if an employee has suffered unlawful violence in the workplace or another individual poses a credible threat of violence to an employee which may be carried out in the workplace. The TRO will seek to prohibit further unlawful violence or threats of violence by limiting the threatening individual’s access to the hospital or to a particular employee. The hospital may also seek to obtain a permanent injunction. The granting of a TRO or permanent injunction can only be done by a local court.
A TRO will often require that the threatening individual maintain at all times a certain distance from the employee that is feeling threatened and may limit any contact by phone or e-mail. While a TRO does not guarantee that violence will not occur, it does allow the police to restrain and/or arrest the perpetrator if the individual does not comply with the terms and conditions of the TRO.
Definitions
For the purposes of a TRO, the term, “employee” includes employees of the hospital, volunteers, physicians, or an independent contractor performing services for the hospital at the hospital.
“Credible threat of violence,” as defined under California law, means a knowing and willful statement or course of conduct which would cause a reasonable person to believe that he or she is under threat of death or serious bodily injury, and which is intended to, and which actually causes, a person to believe that he or she is under threat of death or serious bodily injury, and which serves no legitimate purpose.
“Unlawful violence” means any assault, battery, or stalking prohibited under California law, but does not include lawful acts of self-defense or defense of others.
Revised: 6/2008 / ______