House Passes Bill to Tackle Violence in Health-Care Workplaces

House lawmakers Friday passed a bill targeting violence involving health-care and social service workers.

The legislation (H.R. 1195), which passed 254-166, would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a rule requiring health-care and social service employers to implement workplace violence prevention plans. An interim final standard would be required within one year, and a final standard within 42 months.

The bill would give employees protection from retaliation for reporting workplace violence. It would also protect workers in 24 states that are authorized to run their own occupational safety and health agencies.

The bill is among ...