By Bob Katzen

House 153-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that supporters said would strengthen protections for health care workers, establish preventive and protective standards to reduce the risk of violence, improve health care facility incident reporting, enhance interagency coordination to safeguard privacy and create legal protections for certain employees harmed in the line of duty.

Another key section would establish that employees, directly employed by a health care employer, who suffer workplace violence resulting in bodily injury or serious bodily injury are entitled to paid leave without using any vacation, sick or personal time.

Supporters said that every 38 minutes in Massachusetts health care facilities, someone, most often a clinician or an employee, is physically assaulted, endures verbal abuse or is threatened — most often in emergency rooms, inpatient units and psychiatric units, according to the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association.

“Every day, health care workers face an imminent risk of workplace violence,” said Rep. John Lawn (D-Watertown), lead sponsor of the bill and House Chair of the Committee on Health Care Financing. “This bill takes decisive action to ensure our laws reflect our values and deliver real protections for those who protect us.”

“Every day frontline health care workers are asked to do their jobs under the threat of violence,” said Rep. Dan Cahill (D-Lynn), House Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This bill makes it clear that protecting our health care workers is a matter of public safety and an urgent responsibility. By requiring health care employers to assess risks, train staff, report incidents and respond to violence with real accountability, we are taking long overdue steps to ensure that no worker stands alone in harm’s way.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Mike Connolly Yes Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Yes