Columbus children's hospital exposed staff to workplace violence, OSHA investigation finds
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A Columbus children's hospital failed to protect its employees from workplace violence, the U.S. Department of Labor has found.
Investigators with the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration started an investigation in November 2022 responding to a complaint of unsafe working conditions at the Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
OSHA determined the hospital did not protect employees from violent incidents involving patients in which nurses and mental health professionals suffered concussions, lacerations, contusions, and sprains.
Additionally, OSHA reported the facility failed to keep proper records of employee injuries as required.
“Behavioral healthcare workers can be exposed to risks when treating patients who suffer with conditions that can lead to violent outbursts,” OSHA Area Director Larry Johnson in Columbus, Ohio, explained in a statement. “Unfortunately, Nationwide Children’s Hospital failed to take the necessary precautions that could have prevented their employees from being injured.”
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OSHA issued citations to the facility for one serious violation, one "other-than-serious violation" and proposed $18,000 in penalties.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or conduct the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is the second-largest pediatric hospital in the United States. It employs roughly 12,000 hospitals and 1,000 medical staff, OSHA said.
Nationwide Children's Hospital issued the following statement to ABC 6/ FOX 28,
"The youth mental health crisis has highlighted the complex challenges for behavioral health providers. Our priority is to provide the highest quality care for the children we serve in the safest possible environment for our employees, patients, and families. Nationwide Children’s Hospital is reviewing the findings of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and is working directly with OSHA regarding its concerns. Nationwide Children’s has extensive safety policies, processes, and procedures in place, and our team continually reviews and updates these safety practices."
