MA H2142

Human service employers with 5 or more employees must conduct annual risk assessments for workplace violence, evaluating factors such as working in high-crime areas, late-night hours, public settings, areas with patients who may exhibit violent behavior, and insufficient staffing levels

Employers must develop and implement written violence prevention plans that include employee training, incident reporting and monitoring systems, and methods for reporting to public safety officials and filing criminal charges

Each employer must designate a senior manager to lead an in-house crisis response team providing group and individual crisis interventions, staff victim support groups, family crisis intervention, peer-help, and professional referrals

Violations carry fines up to $2,000 per offense, and the Attorney General may issue cease and desist orders to close work sites for occupational health and safety violations

Employees are protected from retaliation for filing complaints or reporting workplace violence risk factors to the Department of Labor