WorkSafeBC’s inspections found multiple deficiencies in employer’s violence prevention practices
The Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission in Port Coquitlam, B.C. has been fined $646,302 for two separate incidents of violence, both where patients with histories of violence attacked and injured medical staff. Two workers were injured by the patient in the first incident; three were injured by the patient in the second.
WorkSafeBC’s inspections determined there were multiple deficiencies in the employer’s health and safety practices, in particular, those related to risks of violence. The employer failed to conduct a violence risk assessment that included a consideration of previous workplace experiences, failed to establish policies and procedures to minimize the risk of violence, failed to instruct workers in those policies and procedures and failed to inform workers of the risk from patients with a history of violent behaviour. These were all repeated violations.
In addition, the employer failed to investigate reports of unsafe conditions and take necessary corrective action.
This write-up originally appeared in the April/May 2019 edition of Canadian Occupational Safety.
