Oregon Issues Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements for Healthcare Employers

Oregon's occupational safety agency released proposed rules implementing SB 537, a new law requiring healthcare employers including home health and hospice providers to establish violence prevention programs and conduct safety assessments. The regulation, set to take effect in January 2027, broadens the definition of workplace violence to include threats and harassment in addition to physical attacks. The rules also prohibit discrimination against healthcare workers who report workplace violence incidents.

Oregon's new regulations represent a significant expansion of existing safety mandates by explicitly bringing home health and hospice providers under the same violence prevention requirements previously applied only to hospitals and surgical centers. The law defines workplace violence broadly to encompass not just physical attacks but also threats, harassment, and intimidating behavior, requiring employers to document incidents with detailed information about perpetrators, injuries sustained, and organizational responses.

Healthcare employers must now conduct regular security assessments, distribute written prevention plans to all staff, provide annual training, and maintain comprehensive incident records. The rules also establish explicit protections against retaliation for workers who report violence, addressing a gap that may have previously discouraged reporting in healthcare settings.