On April 6, 2021, WSNA filed a complaint with the WA State Labor & Industries Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) on behalf of the WSNA-represented RNs working in PBMU for workplace violence (WPV). Prior to filing this complaint, your union tried to work with Seattle Children’s to address the concerns that the nurses have been voicing for so long. They declined and it was clear that the actions they were prepared to take was not good enough. We felt we had no other choice than to file this complaint.

DOSH has found cause to issue a citation for two serious violations as a result of their three-month investigation.

• Failure to evaluate accident investigations to determine if the cause(s) of the unsafe situation was identified and corrected. (Accidents are instances of WPV leading to injury or harm);
• Failure to allow the employee to choose a representative to represent them at the preliminary investigation that must be conducted for all serious injuries.

What is not included in the citation are the full findings from the investigation. The inspector found that on a monthly basis, during the period of the investigation, of the 131 assaults with injuries reported, PBMU experienced 52-90 percent of all reported worker assaults. You might be wondering why L&I and DOSH do not more thoroughly investigate WPV. DOSH looks at worker training and accident/assault investigations.

DOSH is restricted in the scope of their investigation by the RCWs (Revised Code of WA) and the WACs (WA Administrative Code), laws and agency rules for WA state.

Your union understands the abhorrent working conditions the PBMU workers have been experiencing and will continue to support them. It is our hope that this citation for serious violations will be a wakeup call to Seattle Children’s leadership and they will staff your unit better and take additional measures to keep the staff safe. In the meantime, understand your rights and continue to report all assaults, threats, injuries and unsafe working conditions.