BCGEU puts B.C.’s Forensic Psychiatric Hospital on notice

BCGEU/NUPGE demands employer comply with safety orders by end of September deadline.

 Vancouver (28 Sept. 2011) -The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is demanding the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Port Coquitlam and the B.C. Government comply with six safety orders issued by the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) by the Sept. 30, 2011 compliance deadline.

This follows a violent assault on a health care worker by a patient at the hospital on July 29, 2011. The WCB made the orders after investigating the incident. There have been approximately 15 serious attacks on workers at the hospital in the past six months.

Even though the RCMP attended the incident on the day it occurred and conducted an investigation, the hospital failed to report the incident to the WCB. The organization was not made aware until it was reported by the BCGEU/NUPGE.

The orders to the employer include: provide copies of all incident investigation reports and corrective action to the WCB, identify the causes and factors which may have contributed to the July 29 incident and instruct workers exposed to the risk of violence in procedures, policies and other arrangements meant to control or minimize risk.

A patient using a handmade metal weapon assaulted the BCGEU/NUPGE member. The patient attempted to stab the worker in the neck. The worker suffered a fractured jaw and loosening of multiple teeth. He has undergone reconstructive surgery on his face twice and is awaiting more surgery.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE