Legislation in Maine Looks to Address Violence Against Nurses

The state of Maine is taking health care worker’s safety seriously in a newly proposed bill. State Sen. Jarrett Barrios, a Cambridge Democrat, is introducing a bill that will require a range of safety measures. Namely, health-care providers of five or more employees create employee training programs and a system for reporting and monitoring incidents of violence. Providers would also have to create a written violence-prevention plan that describes factors that would put employees at risk of violence and what methods the facility would take to prevent the violence, such as use of security, equipment, staffing and employee training.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), a primary motivator of the legislation, cited figures from the state Bureau of Labor Statistics in which more than 4,000 hospital employees were assaulted last year while working in emergency setting across the state. Additional studies from hen researchers from the MNA and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst polled 172 nurses at three hospitals this year, more than 30 percent said they were physically threatened over the last two years and 25 percent said they'd been pinched, scratched, spit on or their hands or wrists were twisted on the job. Fifty percent reported being punched at least once; seven said people have tried to strangle them in the past two years; eight said they were sexually assaulted, and two were intentionally stuck with contaminated needles.

Conviction for DV Assault at Maine Camp in July 2004

Willie Alston, 34 was sentenced up to 12 years in state prison on convictions for burglary in the first and second degrees, aggravated criminal contempt, and criminal contempt in the first degree. On July 3, 2004, Alston assaulted his estranged wife at her place of employment, Camp Venture. He broke into a residence and assaulted the woman, pushing her down a flight of stairs. She fled to another residence for her safety, but Alston broke into that place through the window and there he continued to assault her.

Virginia Tech Weighs Weapons Policy on Campus

Alexandria, Virginia Virginia Tech officials have asked the university's governing board to endorse a policy that threatens to arrest anyone who refuses to disarm or leave campus. However, visitors with concealed weapons permits could still bring guns onto campus, but not into the facilities. Earlier this spring, Tech came under heavy criticism from gun owners' rights groups for disciplining a student who carried a concealed handgun to class. The proposed policy included language prohibiting everyone except law enforcement from "carrying, maintaining or storing a firearm or weapon on any university facility, even if the owner has a valid permit."

June 14 Shreveport, LA Robber Beaten by Beauty School Students

Jared Gipson, 24, entered the Blalock’s Beauty College and told the women there to lie down on the floor. After collecting their money, Gipson ran toward the front door when manager Dianne Mitchell tripped him. The robber dropped his gun and Abram Bishop, a male employee at the college, jumped on his back, pinning him down. The students, arming themselves with curling irons, chairs and a wooden table leg, assaulted Gipson to point where he needed medical attention. The gun, police learned later, was not loaded.
NOTE: While this case has a positive outcome, it is dangerous to resist a robbery or to prevent a robber from leaving, especially if they have a firearm. Just let them take the money and leave. It is simply just not worth your life.

June 16 Savoy TX Man Kills Ex-wife and her Co-Worker and Self

David Wilhelm entered EPAC, a plastics plant, and shot his estranged wife and a male co-worker to death before shooting himself with a 9 mm handgun. The victims were in the break room of small company when he found Andrea Wilhelm, 40, of Bonham, and co-worker Felipe de Leon, 37, and murdered them early in the morning. Mrs. Wilhelm received three shots, one to her head, one to her chest, and the third to an arm. Mr. DeLeon-Muniz died from one gunshot wound. The Wilhelm’s were divorcing and Mrs. Wilhelm had filed a protection order against her estranged husband several weeks ago, alleging that he was stalking her.

June 17 Towson, MD Woman Saved by By-Standers from Ex-boyfriend

Jeffrey Ricardo Jones Jr., 25, attempted to murder his estranged girlfriend, Lesley G. Dunlap, 24 but was rescued by a 62-year-old lawyer who played football for the University of Maryland. Jones, who had been convicted in a 2002 assault on Dunlap, had protective order against him last month after alleging that he threatened her with a knife at her office at the law firm Venable LLP. On this last occasion, Dunlap had pulled into the parking lot at the where she works as a receptionist and assistant librarian when Jones pulled in behind her and blocked her car with his Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility vehicle. He then smashed her window with a hammer, pulled her out of her car and forced her into his SUV. When they were stopped due to traffic, she jumped out. Jones chased her down and began stabbing her with a knife. That is when John J. Kenny intervened and called to another by-stander to help. Jones escaped but was later apprehended by police.

March 28th Nottingham, UK Healthcare Worker Kills Himself Over Despair from Work

Ken Wilson worked as an operating theatre practitioner at Queen’s Medical Centre where he encountered the frequent tragedy of young people dying from violence. His wife believes that he killed himself due to the despair at the loss of young people from violent crime, car crashes and illness. The father of two teenagers was found dead in a staff living quarters. On a notepad found in his bag he had written: “I’m not mad, just very tired and depressed.” He took his own life by taking an overdose of anesthetics and muscle relaxant drugs used in the operating room.

May 31 Henderson, TX Two Men Kill Co-Worker

Delfino Martinez, 35 and Noel Guevera Martinez, 30, are both suspects in the murder of Juan Carlos Garza, 20, during a dinner break at Townley Lumber Co. The incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. when the two suspects reportedly returned from a parking lot and fired at co-worker Garza with a 9-millimeter handgun. Garza was shot twice in the head. Brown said both suspects are believed to have participated in the shooting, which occurred All three were working the night shift at the mill and the shooting was allegedly the result of an argument that began over the weekend.

June 9th Trenton, OH Former Employee Rams Supervisor's Car at Train Crossing

Workplace violence does not always happen at work. James Martin was charged with felonious asault and vandalism when he rammed his former supervisor, Harold Smith and then threatened him with a bat. Martin used to work at the Blankenship Masonry when he quit a few weeks ago. Recently, he contacted Smith to be re-hired but was denied. It was several days later when Smith was waiting in his car while a train was crossing when Martin made his assault. Several witnesses also waiting in the car came to assist as Martin held Smith by the throat and threatened to kill him. Arriving officers later found Martin at a near by gas station, talking on a payphone. He then turned himself in.

June 4th Wiggins, MS Nurse Shot by Husband at Community Home

Sandra Whigham, a nurse at the Wiggins Community Home, was shot by her husband just an hour after she had sought protection from local law enforcement. Arthur E. Whigham, 50, had rushed into the assisted living facility for adults and shot his wife with a .22 firearm before fleeing. He was confronted by responding officers and fled, throwing his weapon away which was later recovered.
The day before, they had an altercation which led Sandra to go to the sheriff's office to file a complaint on the day of the shooting. However, her husband met her there at the department and the officers convinced them to have a "cooling off" period. She went on to work while he was suppose to go home to pack a bag. It was an hour later that he showed up at her work and shot her in front of numerous co-workers. She was treated for her injuries and released the next day.

June 7th South Africa Real Estate Agent Killed by Co-Worker Ex-Boyfriend

Verdie Pearson, the sister of the founding owners of the RE/MAX Address Estate Agency in Kloof was killed by her estranged boyfriend. Farf Grubb. It was around 11 a.m. when he came into her office. According to witnesses, they talked for awhile till they heard gunshots. Grubb, 63, had shot Pearson twice in the chest and then killed himself with what is thought to be a .357 magnum handgun. They had a relationship for about 10 years but Pearson had reportedly just broken up with him.

Time for Anger Management

According to specialist Linda Wasmer Andrews, anger management options are gaining steam in he workplace. After popculture latched on to the idea in movies like "Anger Management," employers and employees a like are beginning to understand and appreciate the value of keeping a lid on hostility at work. "Anger is undoubtedly a factor in some of the 1.7 million violent victimizations (mostly assaults) that Americans experience while working each year. (This includes incidents involving customers, clients, students and other nonemployees.) Employers that don't address potential problems could pay a heavy price." Making the situation even more pertinent to the ever cost conscious employer is the bill associated with violent disruptions in the workplace. "If an employer ignores warning signs leading up to a violent incident, it could be held legally liable. But even if the company has done things right, the cost of defending itself averages $700,000," Anderson says. Clearly, it's in a company's best interest to deal with hostile employees before they become violent perpetrators."

When It’s Time For Anger Management:
Training can help all employees—not just
the worksite hothead—deal
productively with emotions.

By Linda Wasmer Andrews

Oregon Passes Bill to Allow DV Victims to Obtain Unemployment Insurance

Oregon Legislature passed a bill allowing domestic violence victims to obtain unemployment benefits more easily. House Bill 2662, sponsored by Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene won unanimous approval by the Senate, following House approval last month. The bill would ensure that abuse victims could obtain unemployment insurance if they must leave work in order to protect their health, safety or welfare or that of their children. They would have to make their case to the Employment Department, the Employment Appeals Board or administrative law judges. The bill has the backing of the Oregon Alliance to End Violence Against Women and an advisory council to the state Employment Department, made up of representatives from workers and employers. Gov. Ted Kulongoski is expected to sign the bill into law.

Ex-Employee Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder Charge Australia

Joan Mary Walsh plead guilty to attempted murder charges when she stabbed security guard Karen Emmerzael at the Commonwealth Bank processing center, in West Melbourne, on December 27, 2004. The 46-year-old mother of three, had previously worked at the center in a data entry position but left some time in 2000 after suffering depression after the death of her eldest son in a car accident. The day of the assault, Walsh told the security guard her car had broken down, asked to use a phone and went to the toilet. She then returned with a long kitchen knife and started stabbing the 28-year-old security guard before she was able to escape. According to the prosecution, there was no obvious motive and very little explanation for the "vicious" and "unprovoked" attack. Walsh had reportedly wrote a letter of apology to the security guard, stating that "anger and hatred had built up inside me" and that she was lonely and missing her son.

Illinios Nurses Provided with a Safe Workplace

Over the past few months there have several attacks on health care workers by patients. Subsequently, bill HB 339 has been passed in both houses in Illinios. The Illinois Nurses Association proactively campaigned and lobbied on behalf of the nurses' rights to a reasonably safe and secure work place. "This bill is the first step in providing the necessary training and safeguards for assuring the safety of patients, visitors and health care employees within healthcare settings," says Debbi Reed, RN, INA's Assistant Program Director.

HB 399 calls for the Illinois Department of Health Services and Illinois Department of Public Health to implement the Healthcare Setting Violence Prevention Act initially as a two- year pilot project in which five facilities will participate.
The bill requires violence prevention training, more extensive record keeping, and a task force led by the Governor.