Violent incidents are on the rise at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam and the union representing staff members said more needs to be done to protect them.
BC Government Employees' Union spokesperson Karen Tankard said FPH employees are dissatisfied with their employer's efforts to implement recommendations put forward by WorkSafe BC following a vicious attack on a staff member in the summer.
Two more assaults have occurred since the July incident and the employer's efforts to ensure the health and safety of workers at the institution are inadequate, she said.
"We believe the employer is not taking the issue of violence in the workplace seriously," Tankard said. "The employer has a legal obligation to ensure that the workplace is safe. We want them to comply with the WCB recommendations and we want to be part of the dialogue when it comes to establishing a safe workplace."
The issue stems from an incident last summer when a patient fashioned a weapon out of a pair of reading glasses and stabbed a worker in the neck. In the attack, the staff member received a fractured jaw and several teeth were loosened. He has twice received reconstructive surgery to his face and the union said further surgery is required.
Tankard said there have been two more violent attacks since July and approximately 15 serious attacks on workers in the last six months.
WorkSafe BC put forward six recommendations following the incident in the summer but Tankard said at least three of those have not been put in place.
She said the employer has not developed proper training and education initiatives to assist workers in dealing with violence and there are no plans or procedures in place when an incident occurs.
But Betty Kerray, the executive director of the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, disagrees with the union's assessment. She said a plan is in place and several corrective actions have been taken since WorkSafe issued its report and recommendations.
"The safety and well-being of our health care team is of paramount importance at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital and a responsibility that the Provincial Health Services Authority takes very seriously," she said in an email.
She said that employees who have been affected by a violent incident at work are offered support services, including a stress-management program.
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