Workplace safety policies in mental health settings

Social workers have repeatedly called for increased safety practices as a means of preventing and reducing client-related violence in the field. The present article investigated mental health service agencies' adherence to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (NIOSHA) administrative and work practice policy guidelines to prevent workplace violence for health care and social service workers. A random sample of National Association of Social Workers members (N = 181) who were current or former supervisors in mental health settings were surveyed. The findings suggest that there are variations in compliance with recommended policy/protocols for worker safety. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.