New Hampton, NY Psychiatric Hospital Workers Protest Risk of Violence

Even the most dangerous jobs can lead the workers to protest. At the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, the security hospital aides were picketing outside as the institution was being inspected by the Joint Hospital Accreditation Commission during their re-accreditation process. The aides claim that their work is too dangerous and that the policies and protocols put them at risk. When the clients, charged with violent crimes and who are being examined to determine their fitness for trial, become aggressive, they are put in room with an open door with two aides standing outside. Policies allegedly prohibit restraints or isolation. Hospital figures show about 25 assaults a month but protesters claim that it is much higher. They are not striking but trying to draw attention to the risk that they face. Recent assaults included an employee getting a concussion and other worker being sexually assaulted.