Addiction Centre Fined $80,000 After Patient Assaults Workers

A nurse at an addiction and mental health centre was performing rounds on the night shift when she was attacked by a patient, who had a history of violence and hadn’t been following the prescribed medication plan. A co-worker intervened in the assault. Both workers suffered physical and psychological injuries. The patient was charged by the police and convicted of assault. The centre pleaded guilty to failing to develop, establish and implement measures and procedures to protect workers from workplace violence or the risk of violence posed by a patient as required by the Health Care and Residential Facilities Regulation and the OHS Act. It was fined $80,000 [The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Govt. News Release, July 18, 2016].