OSHA Fines Hospital for Failing to Provide a Safe Workplace
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This is a discussion on OSHA Fines Hospital for Failing to Provide a Safe Workplace in Nursing News, part of General Nursing ... Federal investigation finds safety violations at The Acadia Hospital ...
by amaikiwi Jan 26, '11Federal investigation finds safety violations at The Acadia Hospital
BANGOR, Maine — The report on a months-long federal investigation at The Acadia Hospital was released on Tuesday and cited the hospital for failing to provide a safe workplace for employees.
The investigation by the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration also faulted the hospital for inadequately documenting work-related injuries and imposed a total fine of $11,700.
The OSHA investigation was triggered in July 2010 by an employee complaint of an unacceptable increase in patient assaults and staff injuries in the wake of a stringent “no restraints” policy imposed by Acadia CEO and president David Proffitt, who was hired in September 2008. Media reports of the investigation elicited a deluge of employee allegations, mostly anonymous, that Proffitt’s policies and management style not only have undermined employee safety and moral but also have jeopardized patient care at the private, for-profit hospital.
Proffitt, who ran into similar criticism in his previous post as superintendent of the state-owned Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Augusta, has defended his restraints policy as keeping with national standards supported by federal mental health agencies, professional associations and advocacy groups.
http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/...adia-hospital/Last edit by Silverdragon102 on Jan 28, '11 : Reason: To comply with Copyright and terms of service
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Jan 28, '11 by makes needs knownIt's all about money though isn't it? Facilities want everything to be maintained and the least amount of people it takes to maintain safety is what they want. I see it in my LTC/rehab facility and they are so quick to point fingers when something happens and argue that we aren't considering our priorities. Meanwhile they fail to notice that we are are running too fast and too hard. What is the priority? Physical safety of patients and staff, or a bunch of information that could discover if they were to come an actually work a floor or unit once in awhile. I mean really work, take off your nice shoes and put some sneakers on and actually run to answer that alarm. Do you think that will ever happen? - Jan 28, '11 by mskateLets see the CEO come into work everyday and be beaten up. See how he feels then.
- Jan 28, '11 by blondy2061hI'm glad Osha is on this. I truly hate needing restraining patients, but I would not work some place that wouldn't allow it. Restraints are sometimes the only thing that can keep a patient and others safe.
- Jan 28, '11 by belgarionI think it's great that OSHA got involved in this issue. But at the risk of being a wet blanket, think about this.
The fine for say, checking the wrong box or not filling in a blank when transferring a patient to another facility is $50,000 per incident and possible loss of CMS certification.
The fine for not documenting worker injuries properly or failure to provide for their safety is $11,700?
Anybody else see a lack of balance here? -
Jan 29, '11 by caroladybelleI agree with the above.
The fine is a mere slap on the wrist. Given the pay rate of many hospital CEOs, a drop in the bucket and certainly much less than the cost of instituting the proper safety measures. -
- Jan 30, '11 by TDCHIMThat fine is truly pathetic. I've never been the sue-happy type, but in this case I can only hope that the decision unleashes or strengthens a number of employee lawsuits. A few successful lawsuits might put enough of a dent in the management's wallet to force through some positive changes in working conditions.
- Asst. Admin
Jan 31, '11 by Esme12Quote from amaikiwiFederal investigation finds safety violations at The Acadia Hospital
BANGOR, Maine — The report on a months-long federal investigation at The Acadia Hospital was released on Tuesday and cited the hospital for failing to provide a safe workplace for employees.
The investigation by the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration also faulted the hospital for inadequately documenting work-related injuries and imposed a total fine of $11,700.
The OSHA investigation was triggered in July 2010 by an employee complaint of an unacceptable increase in patient assaults and staff injuries in the wake of a stringent “no restraints” policy imposed by Acadia CEO and president David Proffitt, who was hired in September 2008. Media reports of the investigation elicited a deluge of employee allegations, mostly anonymous, that Proffitt’s policies and management style not only have undermined employee safety and moral but also have jeopardized patient care at the private, for-profit hospital.
Proffitt, who ran into similar criticism in his previous post as superintendent of the state-owned Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Augusta, has defended his restraints policy as keeping with national standards supported by federal mental health agencies, professional associations and advocacy groups.
http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/...adia-hospital/
It's about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Feb 1, '11 by AZ_RN2BQuote from belgarionOur country's laws are crafted by corporate America, to favor and protect corporate America. That's the bottom line.I think it's great that OSHA got involved in this issue. But at the risk of being a wet blanket, think about this.
The fine for say, checking the wrong box or not filling in a blank when transferring a patient to another facility is $50,000 per incident and possible loss of CMS certification.
The fine for not documenting worker injuries properly or failure to provide for their safety is $11,700?
Anybody else see a lack of balance here?
