Enacts the "Nurse Safety Work Act," which requires the implementation of safety procedures when hospital staff is alone with a patient.
Summary
A07276 would add a new section to the New York Public Health Law establishing the “Nurse Safety Work Act.” The bill requires hospitals to adopt safety procedures so that hospital staff are not left alone with a patient unless one of two conditions is met: the staff member has a tracking device that can be used to signal for help, or other hospital staff are close enough to hear and respond to a call for assistance.
The measure is aimed at improving workplace safety for nurses and other hospital staff by reducing the risk of assault, harassment, or other emergencies when a worker is isolated with a patient. It applies specifically to hospitals and would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend the Public Health Law by creating a new statutory requirement for hospitals to implement staff safety protocols in patient-care settings. Hospitals would need to review staffing practices, emergency response procedures, and potentially deploy tracking or alert devices to comply. The practical effect would be to impose a new workplace safety obligation on hospital operators and to give hospital employees additional protections when working alone with patients.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a worker-protection and patient-care safety bill with an overall supportive policy rationale. The caption and language suggest a focus on preventing harm to hospital staff, especially nurses, by ensuring they can quickly summon assistance. No formal opposition or recorded controversy is available in the provided materials.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to be operational and cost-related: hospitals may question the feasibility of guaranteeing that staff are never alone with a patient unless tracking devices are provided or nearby staff are available to respond immediately. Labor advocates and nursing groups would likely support the bill as a safety measure, while hospital administrators may be concerned about staffing levels, technology costs, and compliance burdens. Because no committee transcript or vote history is provided, no specific named opponents or supporters are identified in the record supplied.
Requires hospitals to establish a violence prevention program which includes a workplace safety and security assessment and develop a safety and security plan that addresses identified workplace violence threats or hazards.
Requires hospitals to establish a violence prevention program which includes a workplace safety and security assessment and develop a safety and security plan that addresses identified workplace violence threats or hazards.