An Ohio children’s hospital has been cited by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration after inspectors said the facility did not adequately protect employees from workplace violence perpetuated by patients.
OSHA said Thursday it cited Columbus-based Nationwide Children’s Hospital for one serious violation and one non-serious violation and proposed $18,000 in fines after an investigation sparked by worker complaints found the facility failed to take steps to protect employees from patients whose bites, kicks, punches, and other assaults caused serious injury.
Nurses and mental health staff suffered concussions, cuts, lacerations and sprains after the assault, which occurred in the facility̵
7;s Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion in November 2022. The hospital unit provides acute behavioral health care with intensive outpatient programs.OSHA also found that the facility failed to keep required records of employee injuries.
The hospital has 15 business days to contest the citation and proposed penalties.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is the second largest pediatric hospital in the country, according to OSHA.
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