Violence Against Nurses Is Up While OSHA Enforcement Is Down

Nurses are increasingly becoming victims of violence at work. They’re among health care workers who are at a growing risk of getting shot, stabbed, punched and assaulted by unruly patients. 

OSHA is the federal agency responsible for workplace safety, calling violence against health care workers a serious concern. But, our investigation found -- instead of responding to the increase in assaults -- OSHA has reduced workplace violence safety inspections.

OSHA flagged the issue of workplace violence in medical facilities back in 2016, but has since abandoned its efforts to gain more enforcement power by establishing an anti-violence standard that could hold health care employers more accountable.