Concerning workplace violence in health care settings.

New violence protections for health care workers

Beginning January 1, 2026, Washington health care settings must create and carry out written workplace violence prevention plans. Plans need a full review and update at least once each calendar year. A statutory safety committee must lead the plan when one exists. A workplace violence committee also qualifies when employee-elected members equal or outnumber employer-selected members. The committee develops, carries out, and monitors the plan. Plans must cover security systems, alarms, emergency response, security staff, staffing, patient classifications, job design, equipment, and building layout. They must also cover first aid, incident reporting, employee training, and help for employees directly affected by violence. Plans must address working alone in high-risk areas, uncontrolled access, late-night and early-morning shifts, and nearby areas such as parking. Each violent incident requires a timely investigation into its causes. Records must include the date, time, location, conduct, harm, response, prevention steps, and actual versus planned staffing when applicable. Settings must send the committee summaries without identifying people, including required incident data, investigation findings, common causes, and prevention recommendations. Most settings report at least quarterly. Reporting is at least twice yearly for critical access hospitals, hospitals operating fewer than 25 acute care beds, and the specified island hospital in a Skagit County public hospital district. That schedule also covers federally certified sole community hospitals outside health systems owning more than one Washington-licensed acute care hospital. Existing privacy limits remain in place. Plan updates must consider investigation findings and guidance from state health, social services, and labor agencies, federal workplace safety officials, Medicare, and accrediting groups. The act required funding identified by its bill or chapter number in the omnibus state budget by June 30, 2025, to avoid becoming void.