Rising Violence Against Home Health and Social Workers Nationwide

In a harrowing series of events that underscores the dangers faced by home health and social workers nationwide, a South Florida therapist endured hours of sexual torture by her client, Tzvi Allswang, in 2022. This incident is part of a disturbing trend of violence against health and social service providers. In the same year, visiting nurse Douglas Brant was fatally shot in Spokane, Washington, and the following year, visiting nurse Joyce Grayson was strangled in Connecticut. These cases highlight the significant risks these professionals encounter, often in settings where they are alone and vulnerable.

OSHA data from 2011 to 2013 shows that out of 23,000 workplace assaults, 75% occurred in health and social service settings, a figure believed to be an underestimation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2018 found that health and social service workers are five times more likely to suffer a serious workplace-violence injury than workers in other sectors. Despite the clear dangers, there has been a lack of comprehensive measures to protect these workers.

In response to these ongoing threats, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act was introduced in April 2023. This legislation aims to mandate employers in the health care and social service fields to assess and develop plans to prevent violence against their workers. This includes potentially preventing workers from entering homes unaccompanied in certain situations.

The urgency of addressing the safety of health and social service workers is emphasized by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut, who reintroduced the bill following the murder of Joyce Grayson in his district. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that the safety of these essential workers is prioritized, recognizing the critical role they play in providing care across communities.