Media Release: 6 December 2009

The ANF calls for safer work environments for nurses

The Australian Nursing Federation is calling on State and Federal Governments to ensure employers consult with nurses about improved safety and protection against drunken and drug affected patients.

New legislation to be decided this week must reflect the needs of nurses who are regularly and increasingly coming under attack, the ANF said today.

Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said nurses were being scratched, hit, kicked, bitten, verbally abused and even spat at work.

Ms Kearney made the comments in the lead up to new Occupational Health and Safety legislation being decided in coming weeks.

This will begin with Safe Work Australia which will finalize laws to be signed off by the workplace minister on December 9.

“Nurses just want to care for their patients and they don’t want to come under physical or verbal attack while trying to do their job. Employers need to listen to nurses and implement changes that make their workplaces as safe as possible,” she said.

“New legislation needs to compel employers to consult with staff about health and safety issues and should remove loop holes that allows them to delay or avoid talking with staff about unresolved OHS issues.

“As it stands in the legislation, months could go by without employers being obliged to respond to the concerns of staff who may be working in an unsafe environment.”
“Changes that make workplaces safer could include a panic button, safer car parking areas, alternative exits and a safe to keep drugs and weapons found on patients,” she said.

It is also important that nurses report assaults to their employers and police.”
“Many times you find that nurses stay silent because they are putting the care of the patient before themselves. Violence and intimidation should not be a part of any workplace,” Ms Kearney said.

“As drug and alcohol abuse spills from the streets and into our emergency rooms and hospitals you find a growing number of people who seem to believe they can get away with violent and aggressive behaviour against nursing staff who are caring for them. Unfortunately employers need to be forced to consult with staff about how to make work environments safer, it doesn’t happen naturally,” Ms Kearney said.

Media Contacts
Eleni Hale, Media and Communications, 0402 337 388
Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Lee Thomas, Assistant Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Andrew McCarthy, Industrial Officer (03) 9602 8521/0437 121 663

The ANF, with 170,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.