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While having access to in-home care can be lifesaving for a patient, it does come at an increased risk for the caregivers who provide these services. Whether they encounter an unstable patient, aggressive dog, or even an icy staircase, these employees are vulnerable to many situations beyond their control. In fact, OSHA conducted a study across various industries in the USA and found the majority of workplace-related assaults occurred in healthcare and social service settings.
“According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 27 out of the 100 fatalities in healthcare and social service settings that occurred in 2013 were due to assaults and violent acts. Between 2011 and 2013, workplace assaults ranged from 23,540 and 25,630 annually, with 70 to 74% occurring in healthcare and social service settings. For healthcare workers, assaults comprise 10-11% of workplace injuries involving days away from work, as compared to 3% of injuries of all private sector employees.”
Public Act No. 24-19, passed by Connecticut’s senate earlier in 2024, includes several provisions intended to protect and support these frontline workers in their line of duty. It also earmarked $6 million in ARP 9817 funding to lessen the financial burden on agencies enacting these in-home staff safety enhancements. The first round of grants were expected to be allocated by the end of October 2024, but additional opportunities to apply for funds will be available.
The act mandates that by January 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Social Services will establish a home health worker safety grant program that targets 2027 for further incentive grants. These incentive grants can be used for implementing mechanisms for safety checks and may include mobile applications and GPS-enabled wearable alert buttons.
While enacting the changes may seem overwhelming, WorkSafe Guardian’s platform is already compliant with the new regulations and saves hours of planning and execution. Listed in the senate bill are enhancements including emergency alert buttons, tracking devices, safety training, risk-scoring tools, safety consultants, and the establishment of dedicated phone lines for staff in the field to access immediate support. These features (and many more) are available with WorkSafe Guardian’s platform for less than $20 per employee, per month.
Since 2016, we’ve been specialists in protecting lone workers worldwide. Before you spend the time on redesigning your safety plans, schedule a conversation with our team. We’d love to discuss the new requirements in depth and demonstrate how our platform can save hours of planning and implementation.
WorkSafe Guardian provides an all-in-one solution with a smartphone duress app and client management portal backed by an alert response monitoring platform with the ability to utilize your own 24/7 monitoring. The perfect solution for Central Monitoring Stations reselling to their clients or large enterprise to protect their frontline employees.
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