In August 2005 the NYS Public Employees Federation launched a statewide campaign entitled, “Stop Workplace Violence”. Getting punched, kicked, or otherwise abused is NOT part of the job! Thousands of our members work with society’s most dangerous populations in hazardous conditions in state institutions and social service agencies. Chronic short staffing, mandatory overtime, and stress put our members and their clients at risk.

The campaign consisted of education and mobilization to improve safety!

The goals of the campaign were:

1. Mobilize for worksite and agency based violence prevention programs; and
2. Establish a legislative agenda on workplace violence prevention. Two of the three bills were signed into law. One was vetoed by the Governor.

Materials generated from the campaign are:

Stop Workplace Violence Campaign Memo

Stop Workplace Violence Campaign Flyer

Members of the Stop Workplace Violence Workgroup

HAB Hearings

Nurse Felony Law

Prevent Workplace Violence Legislative Agenda

Report to the Nation

Workplace Violence Prevention Law

The NYS Workplace Violence Prevention Law was signed on June 7, 2006.  According to the DOL, March 4, 2007 is the date by which public employers must comply with the Law.  The final regulations were published on April 29, 2009. 

This legislation requires public employers to develop and implement workplace violence prevention programs that cover all employees at each of their worksites. 

The Law is the most comprehensive standard in the country.  It is intended to minimize the risk of workplace violence, making all NYS public workplaces safer for the workers and the public they serve.

Key Elements of a Workplace Violence Prevention Program Fact Sheet
Updated Jan 2010

Are you involved in developing the workplace violence prevention program at your agency and worksite? If not, the time to get involved is NOW.  If PEF activists are not involved, there is a clear danger that agencies will engage in a half hearted paper response, at best. 

Below are key points regarding the regulations and your right to be involved in your agency and worksite programs:

• The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) finalized and published the above referenced regulations on April 29, 2009.  The New York State Workplace Violence Prevention Act, Labor Law Article 2 § 27-b, became law on June 7, 2006.  The effective date of the law was March 4, 2007. 
• The law requires all state agencies, sub-divisions, and authorities to develop comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs with the full participation of public employee union representatives.  However, it is the employer’s responsibility to develop and implement the programs.  The programs should address all potential sources of workplace violence, whether perpetrated as part of a robbery or other criminal act, by a client, patient, or inmate in an institutional setting, by a co-worker, or by a “significant other” in a workplace-based domestic violence situation.
• Significant union and employee involvement is required by the law, and is critical to ensuring that workplace violence prevention programs are comprehensive, feasible, and effective. Therefore, agencies shall engage in a process that includes union representatives and appropriate frontline staff in developing their programs. Many agencies are already engaged in such efforts.  Additionally, PEF has expertise and resources to assist agencies in developing their programs.
• The effective date of the Workplace Violence Prevention Regulations is April 29, 2009.  Public employers should be in full compliance with the regulations by August 27, 2009. 
• The NYSDOL has promulgated regulations that detail the mandatory elements of a workplace violence prevention program.  They can be viewed at NYS Dept of Labor Website.  
  
  The regulations include phased in effective dates as follows: 

1. The Employers Policy Statement shall be completed within 30 days – May 29, 2009.
2. The workplace evaluation and determination (risk assessment) shall be completed within 60 days – June 28, 2009.
3. The written workplace violence prevention program shall be completed within 75 days – July 13, 2009.
4. Employers shall be in compliance with the entire regulation within 120 days – August 27, 2009. This includes implementing feasible hazard controls and training.

You are able to download the dates here:  WPV DATES

Workplace Violence Prevention - DOL Final Regulations

Workplace Violence Prevention - DOL Final Regulations with union involvement highlighted