Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: UNCLASS

31-372-101 Section 31-370(a) of the Connecticut Occupational Safety and Health Act: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees, including but not limited to Buildings and Grounds Officers, were exposed to the hazard of being assaulted and threatened by patiens/residents and employees: Location: (A)STCT Department of Veterans' Affairs (1)Buildings and Grounds Officers were exposed to the hazard of being assaulted and threatened by patients/residents and employees who exhibited disruptive behavior, inlcuding but not limited to, assault, attempted assault, making threats, acting aggressively while intoxicated, and disorderly conduct. Feasible and useful abatement methods must include: *Implementing a specialized training program regarding the prevention and management of disruptive, aggressive, and suicidal behaviors for all Buildings and Grounds Officers. Such training may be modeled after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs "Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior" training program and should address topics including, but not limited to, identifying aggressive behavior, deescalating situations where aggressive behavior is being exhibited, verbal/non-verbal intervention skills, personal safety skills, and passive defense skills. *Providing refresher training at a frequency necessary to ensure Buildings and Grounds Officers maintain the knowledge and skills needed to perform their job duties safely. Other feasible and useful abatement methods may include: *Developing a policy which defines circumstances under which Buildings and Grounds Officers should not transport patients/residents. *If transport is necessary under those circumstances, providing an additional, trained staff member to accompany the transporting Buildings and Grounds Officer or consider providing vehicles with a separation barrier between the driver and the patient/resident. *Reinforcing to all patients/residents and employees the Department's policies and procedures regarding workplace violence and that violence is not permitted or tolerated. *Insofar as feasible, consistently enforcing the Department's policies and procedures when violent or aggressive acts are committed by patients/residents or employees. *Providing training similar to that received by Buildings and Grounds Officers to other Department employees at a level appropriate to their job duties.