Health and Safety

By DEBORAH A. MILES
In September 2008, a Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA represented aide at Bronx Psychiatric Center literally had the skin raked off her face by an uncontrollable patient. The aide, who has worked there for more than 20 years, reported the numerous threats from this patient to Bronx PC managers. Then, on September 19, the threats became an ugly reality.

In April 2007, a 30-year-old aide at the center was beaten on the head with a broom stick and died six months later. The cause of death was reported to be unrelated to the assault.

In August 2008, another Bronx PC staff member had her hair pulled out and was beaten on the head with a can of Ensure.

These are not isolated incidents, according to PEF Division 213 Council Leader Darlene Williams.

Violence at Bronx PC has been escalating. In the first three quarters of 2008, 62 staff injuries occurred, accounting for 581 lost work days due to patient assaults.

For almost three years, Williams has been working diligently to find ways to stop the horrendous attacks on staff.

“Nearly 75 percent of the staff have been affected by some sort of workplace violence,” Williams said. “Attacks have been made on our members. And our members are also affected by the attacks on CSEA represented staff.”

Williams received support from PEF’s Health and Safety Department and teamed with CSEA to urge Bronx PC managers to address the problems.

PEF Vice President Pat Baker, PEF chair of the Labor-Management Committee at the state Office of Mental Health (OMH), also was instrumental in having the assaulters arrested.
“They are being arrested now,” Williams said. “But then they come right back.”

Getting some action
“People don’t know how to address these incidents,” Williams said. “Management really has to understand the severity of these attacks and do something. There is constant talking at labor-management meetings, but no effective program has been implemented. Management needs to focus on prevention, work with the unions and direct-care staff, and develop a plan of action.”

When nothing was done after the horrific attack on September 19, Williams wrote a letter to OMH Commissioner Michael Hogan, and raised serious concerns about the violence at Bronx PC.

The commissioner wrote back saying Bronx PC managers initiated an administrative investigation of the patient who peeled off the skin on the aide’s face. He also wrote, “The local labor-management process is the key to our working together to address these issues.”

“The severity of the aide’s injuries and the lack of management response prompted me to write a letter,” Williams said. “Management could not find the accident injury report. They lost everything. It’s our responsibility to work for all union members across-the-board.”

What’s next?
Williams has formed a joint health and safety committee with CSEA.

“We realized we have a right to a joint health and safety committee under the PEF and CSEA labor agreements. This is an important benefit for our members,” Williams said.

Williams and the local CSEA president have been documenting the violent attacks on staff and presenting them to Bronx PC managers. Their numbers are much higher than those Bronx PC management reports on a monthly basis.

“The numbers are totally different,” Williams said. “In some months, management’s is 50 percent lower. We need to fine tune our communications so we are all on the same page. We need to set deadlines to accomplish our goals. We need to listen to suggestions from staff. And we desperately need to have an action plan when a patient threatens a staff member.

“If we had a plan in place prior to September 19, perhaps the aide would still have the skin on her face.