Indiana House advances workplace violence reporting bill

The Indiana House of Representatives has advanced HB-1040. HB-1040 requires, among other things, that health and school employers report violence against health care and school employees. The bill, as of this writing, also requires employers report violence even if an incident does not occur on-duty or on work premises.

If enacted, the bill would take effective July 1, 2027 and require two reporting windows each year with information on:

• The name of the employer,
• City and county of incident
• Time covered in the report
• Number of workplace batteries during the reporting period
• Job titles
• Date of incident(s)
• Address and specific locations (such as a parking lot, restroom, etc.) if on workplace property
• Circumstances of the battery, including gender, manner, hospitalization, weapons used, and charges filed, if any

Employers would be required to report as much information as known to the State Health Commissioner even if the employee is struck at home, in a personal vehicle, or anywhere else.

16 other states have similar bills enacted or under consideration

Colorado considered a similar bill in 2024, but it did not pass. That state already has SB25-166, which requires hospitals to report workplace violence and ties incentive funding to the reports.

Wyoming, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, and Utah are considering or have considered similar bills, with varying levels of requirements and tracking methods. Ohio’s similar HB 452 is enacted.

California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington all already require healthcare employer implement workplace prevention plans and track or compile violent incidents. These states, however, focus on broader violence prevention efforts. Indiana’s HB-1040 does not currently tie funding, incentives, or prevention efforts to anything.

Healthcare facilities should get ahead of workplace violence de-escalation and training

“VPC has conducted hundreds of workplace violence de-escalation trainings. It’s routinely one of our most-requested trainings,” says VPC President Troy Jester. “Whether or not HB-1040 passes this year, healthcare and school leaders should provide high-quality training. Both sectors face considerably different challenges and needs. A bill like this is likely to be revised if it passes or come up even frequently if it doesn’t pass this year.”

“We’re not impressed by most online de-escalation training programs or one-size-fits-all generic violence-awareness courses,” says Jester. “Teachers, for instance, may have to de-escalate an entire class or lunchroom. Healthcare workers are likely only dealing with one person or patient. Teachers know they have to build relationships with students and parents who are there for years, unlike patients temporarily in a hospital. And medical providers have challenges with all age groups, not just mostly young people.”

Violence against school workers

School teachers and staff face risks from upset students, student brawls that escalate to involve staff, and violence from co-workers. “Our de-escalation training stands apart from what schools may consider from online sources or local community partners,” says VPC Security Branch Director Dwight Frost. “School staff don’t need to be told about the risks in their workplace. But it’s not unreasonable they might not think about angry parents that pose risks in parking lots, outside of school, or at home.”

Violence against healthcare workers

Healthcare facilities from large hospital systems to small-town nursing homes and home health aide programs face highly variable challenges. “Large, urban facilities are likely in high-traffic, dense, locations where people may wander in through unlocked doors,” says Frost. That requires a much different approach than a specialized facility in the suburbs, or a rural clinic. “All of them are at risk of violence involving patients or co-workers, but the kinds of risks, motivating factors, substance abuse, and more don’t allow a one-size-fits-all approach as it would for schools or a retailer or industrial plant.”

Sector-specific training designed for your workplace

Regardless of policy-maker decisions, high-quality de-escalation and workplace violence reduction training for schools and healthcare facilities in particular should:

• Avoid identical training mandates for both professions.
• Require sector-specific comprehension standards.
• Review any reporting data already compiled.
• Avoid over-medicalizing teacher training.
• Avoid under-tactical training for healthcare.

VPC’s de-escalation and workplace violence reduction training includes discussion and demonstration, along with role-playing focusing on unique requirements…