Judge Affirms OSHA Citation in Death of Healthcare Worker Killed by Mentally Ill Client

An Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Administrative Law Judge has determined that a healthcare provider company did not protect a social service coordinator, who was fatally stabbed outside her client’s home in December 2012.

According to the OSHA news release, the healthcare client had severe mental illness and a violent criminal history. The social service coordinator was on-the-job for approximately three months. The employee "had prior meetings with the man and recorded in her case notes that she was uncomfortable being alone with him."

While the Judge’s decision is not yet available, the release indicated that a social service coordinator visited dangerous and violent clients in their homes and coordinated case management. To perform mental and physical health assessments, they would sometimes transport clients in their vehicle.

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