An outpatient mental health treatment facility in Ohio, Signature Health Inc., has implemented several safety measures following a violent incident in April 2024. A patient attacked a nurse practitioner with a knife at the Maple Heights location, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The investigation revealed that the patient brought the weapon into the facility, where a security guard and co-workers managed to halt the attack. In response, Signature Health has collaborated with OSHA to enhance its safety protocols.

“Since this disturbing incident, Signature Health has worked diligently with OSHA to improve its safety programs and has enacted measures to reduce the likelihood of future incidents,” said OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts in Cleveland. He emphasized that a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program should include screening procedures, effective employee training, and immediate reviews of incidents.

Following the investigation, Signature Health was cited for a serious violation under the OSH Act’s general duty clause for not adequately protecting employees from workplace violence. The company agreed to pay a penalty of $16,131 by November 30, 2024.

Over the past six months, Signature Health has introduced several initiatives at its Maple Heights facility and plans to expand these across all locations. These actions include installing weapons detection equipment, hiring risk consultation specialists, creating a role focused on workplace violence prevention and emergency response, updating policies such as Weapon Response and Preparedness Procedure, conducting employee training on unconventional weapons use, establishing workplace violence committees, and adding signage prohibiting weapons.

Signature Health operates seven facilities in northeast Ohio and employs around 1,100 people. The Maple Heights site offers mental healthcare services among others.

Healthcare workers face high rates of workplace violence injuries; they are five times more likely than other workers to experience such incidents according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. From 2011 to 2018, violent assaults against healthcare workers increased by 64 percent. Additionally, a survey by the American Nurses Association found that one in four nurses reported being physically assaulted on duty.

OSHA provides guidelines aimed at preventing workplace violence within the healthcare sector.