Law sparks new efforts
to end workplace violence
ByDEBORAHA.MILES
challenges.Eachteamisgoingtohaveto “slow,but
Y Threeyearsafterthestateenacteda
identifythembeforetheycompletethe coming.”
lawtominimizetheriskofworkplace
assessmenttodeterminetheriskto OMHandmany
violence,somestateagenciesare
employees,”Redlersaid. agenciesputallworkoncomplyingwith
F
E
T
complyingwiththelawwhileothersare
thelawonholdduringthelengthytime
draggingtheirfeet.
DEC lags behind periodinwhichtheregulationswere
S
A
However,theperformanceofthestate
AtDEC,agencycomplianceis“severely beingpromulgated.Thissetthingsback.
agenciesisstellarincomparisontoNew
lagging,”accordingtoHollyClark, Williams,PEFDivision213council
&
YorkCitywhichsuedthestate
assistantcouncilleaderofPEFDivision leaderatBronxPsychiatricCenter,said,
DepartmentofLabor(DOL)August14,
169. “AlotofourprogressisduetoPEF’s
allegingDOLexceededitsstatutory
Clarksaidtheunionwantedtobepart HealthandSafetyDepartment jumping
authoritybyrequiringunioninvolvement
oftheprocessrightfromthebeginning. inandhelpingusworkwith
indevelopingworkplaceviolence
Shesentseverale-mailstoher management.Now,weunderstandwhat
L
T
H
preventionplans.
managementcounterpartandtheDEC wemustdotoputthistogether.Facilities
Thelaw,whichtookeffectJune7,
legaldepartment. inOMHarejuststartingtogetonboard
E
A
2006,requirespublicemployerstotake
“Therewasstillnoresponsetomy withtheirriskassessment.”
H
specificactions.Theyaretopostapolicy
requesttosetupameeting.Thatleftme
statementwithinputfromlaborunions,
nochoicebuttotellthemIwouldfilean OMRDD updates program
performariskevaluationateach
improperpracticecharge.Thatprompted MostoftheOMRDDworksiteshave
worksitewithparticipationofunion
action,”Clarksaid. workplaceviolencepreventionprograms
representatives,implementfeasiblerisk
Intheinterim,thePEFDECgrouphas inplace,accordingtoEdSnow,council
reductionmeasures,developawritten
beenmeetingandputtingtogether leaderattheSunmount Developmental
workplaceviolencepreventionprogram
comments.Clarksaidthegroupisalso DisabilitiesServicesOffice(DDSO)in
withinputfromunionrepresentatives,
developingalettertoDECCommissioner TupperLake.
andtrainemployeesonhowtoavoidand
PeterGranniscitingtheagencyhas “OMRDDisnowdirectingtheDDSOs
respondtoactsofviolence.
missedthedeadlinesforriskevaluation, torevisetheirprogramsbecausemostof
policystatementsandthewritten themwerewrittenwhentheprogramfirst
Agency compliance preventionprogramplan. cameintoplay.Now,theDDSOsare
ThestateOfficeofChildrenandFamily WorkplaceviolenceatDECdiffersfrom updatingandtweakingtheirpolicies.
Services(OCFS)andDivisionofParole theviolenceseenatDOCSorOMH Therearesomekinksbecauseofhow
seemtobeontopofthegame.TheOffice facilities. peopleinterpretworkplaceviolence.
ofMentalRetardationandDevelopmental “Wehavealotofemployeeswhowork Overall,OMRDDismovingforwardand
Disabilities(DDSO)isaworkinprogress. withthepublic.Theydelivernoticeof tryingtocomplywiththelaw,”Snowsaid.
TheDepartmentofEnvironmental violationsorfailedaudits.Thesepeople
Conservation(DEC)andOfficeofParks, can’tconductbusinessasusual. Parole proceeding
RecreationandHistoricPreservationare Sometimeswehavetotellfishermen,they IsmaelCruz,PEFExecutiveBoard
behindscheduletocomplywiththelaw, can’tfish.Wesometimesdealwithan memberforthestateDivisionofParole,
whiletheOfficeofMentalHealth(OMH)is iratepublicfromLongIslandtoNiagara saidithasbeenworkingwellwithPEF
slowlycomingonboard. Falls.” representativestodevelopaprogram.
Ironically,atatimewhenviolencehas “Wecompletedtheassessmentform
beenincreasingatjuvenilejustice DOCS on schedule andformulatedapolicyattheAlbany
facilities,OCFShasbeenoneofthe APEFExecutiveBoardmemberand office,”Cruzsaid.“Thingsareproceeding.
agenciesworkingwithunion PEFHealthandSafetyChairatDOCS, Buttheworksitesinparolearedifferent.
representativesattheagencylevelto JamesGonyosaidmanagementis Ithassatelliteofficesthroughoutthe
developitsworkplaceviolenceprevention workingwellwiththeunionsasfaras stateandsometimeswemeetparoleesin
program. complyingwiththelaw. courtrooms.Thatcanbehazardousand
InAugust,OCFSconductedjoint “Wehavebeenmeetingregularlyand troublesome,becauseifaparoleeistaken
sessionsatfivetraininglocationsto workingonthedirectivesthedepartment intocustody,everyoneiswitnessingwhat
preparelocalhealthandsafety willbeputtingtogethershortly.Wedid isgoingon.
committeestoconductriskevaluations. threesitevisits,submittedcommentsand “Fortunately,theWorkplaceViolence
SteveRedler,PEF-OCFSLabor- completedtheassessmentform,”Gonyo PreventionLawreachesoutintothese
ManagementCommitteeco-chair,said said.“Managementhasacceptedmanyof satelliteofficessotheyalsoneedtobe
eachworksiteisunique. oursuggestions.Wehavebeenableto assessed.”
“OCFShasdifferentofficeswhere massagethatdocumentintosomething Ifyouragencyisnotcomplyingwith
peoplework,andresidentialfacilitiesfor thatisgoingtowork.” thelaw,orifyouneedassistance,callthe
troubledyouths.Insomecases, PEFHealthandSafetyDepartmentat
employeesmeetwithtroubledyouthsand OMH, slow but coming (800)342-4306ext.254.
theirfamiliesintheircommunities. UnlikeDOCS,whichismovingquickly
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ahead,DarleneWilliamssaidOMHis
PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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