The settlement resolves a 2015 OSHA enforcement action issued to the hospital regarding the hospital’s workplace violence prevention program, officials said in a statement to Becker’s Hospital Review. OSHA withdrew the citation as part of the settlement.
“As the complete picture of the medical center’s WVPP became clear through the citation contest process, it was determined OSHA’s original allegation was misplaced, and OSHA vacated the citation. The agreement with OSHA memorialized the specific elements of the medical center’s WVPP that the government became aware and ‘does not dispute’ were already in place and effective, and which the medical center committed to maintain,” they said.
Furthermore, hospital officials noted the agreement does not require Bergen Regional to develop or implement new elements to its WVPP, but instead “continue to take the steps already a part of its existing, compliant WVPP.”
While the settlement does not include a penalty related to alleged workplace violence, it does include a $14,000 penalty related to a separate technical paperwork violation regarding how two injuries were recorded by the hospital, according to Bergen Regional.
Robert Kulick, OSHA regional administrator in New York, said in a prepared statement the settlement “holds Bergen Regional … accountable for ensuring it has an effective workplace violence prevention program that makes employee safety and health paramount.”
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