An acute care inpatient behavioral health facility in Bradenton, Fla., is facing more than $71,000 in fines for not protecting staff from violence in the workplace, according to an article on the HCPro website.
Premier Behavioral Health Solutions of Florida Inc. was cited for “failing to institute controls to prevent patients from verbal and physical threats of assault, including punches, kicks, and bites; and from using objects as weapons,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Premier operates Suncoast Behavioral Health Center.
The OSHA citation suggest, among other things, that Suncoast evaluate the configuration of the nurses’ workstations to keep patients from jumping over desks or otherwise gaining access to personnel as well as weapons such as staplers, phones, cords, pens and computers.
The facility was also urged to ensure security cameras are continuously monitored and provide panic alarms.
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