2026 changes to Washington’s workplace violence prevention law: What RNs need to know
This story appears in the January 2026 edition of The Washington Nurse.
The 2026 changes to the workplace violence prevention law build on earlier requirements for prevention plans, training, and annual incident review. The new law strengthens accountability by requiring formal investigations of every incident, regular summary reports with analysis—not just documentation—and the use of incident data to update workplace violence prevention plans. These changes improve transparency and support more systematic tracking and prevention of workplace violence risk factors.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Washington’s new workplace violence prevention law (RCW 49.19) requires covered healthcare employers to improve how they track, respond to, and prevent violent acts. These updates aim to improve safety for frontline healthcare workers, who experience some of the highest rates of workplace violence in the state.
Detailed investigations
The new law places much more emphasis on investigation of each incident of workplace violence. Employers must conduct prompt investigations of all workplace violence incidents, including analysis of systemic causes, staffing levels, and contributing factors.
Workplace violence summary reports
Employers must provide summary reports of workplace violence incidents to the entire Safety or Workplace Violence Prevention Committee on a quarterly basis (for most organizations).
These summaries must include de-identified incident data and investigation findings, analysis of systemic causes and trends, and recommendations for improving the workplace violence prevention plan and related practices.
Annual review of the workplace violence prevention plan
Organizations now must review and update their workplace violence prevention plan each year, rather than every three years, using information specific to their setting, including incident reports, investigation findings, staffing patterns, and unit-level risks.
- Report every workplace violence incident, including physical assaults, threats, attempted assaults, and weapon-related incidents.
- Use your employer’s designated reporting system consistently to file reports. The law relies on complete and accurate data to identify trends and justify safety improvements. Refer to your employer’s incident reporting policy with any reporting questions.
- Use the ADO system to report workplace violence events to your union.
Online course: What to do if injured
When workplace violence happens, knowing what to do next matters. Instructor Cheri Osler, the associate dean of Nursing at Spokane Community College, guides you through this 1.75 hour webinar.
Info to Go: 7-step checklist after injury
WSNA provides a seven-step checklist on what to do if you become a victim of workplace violence. First step is to tell your supervisor and seek medical attention.