Workplace violence prevention - Vermont

Vermont adopted a workplace violence prevention law for hospitals in 2025. It requires licensed hospitals in the state to implement the following:

• A security plan development team consisting of health care employees who provide direct patient care at the facility as well as representatives from local agencies and law enforcement personnel.
• A security risk assessment that addresses all high-risk areas of the hospital, including the emergency department and all patient care areas, and considers factors such as patient volume, crime rates in the community, and the ability of local law enforcement to respond to violent incidents.
• A security plan that requires:
  • At least one hospital employee trained in de-escalation techniques to be present at all times in the emergency department and other patient-care areas.
  • An employee who is trained in trauma-informed care and victim support to serve as a liaison to law enforcement, to support victims through the legal process, and to ensure that the hospital prioritizes the safety and retention of employees.
• An employee training program that includes instruction in:
  • The culture of safety as determined by the hospital;
  • How to respond to the presence or use of weapons;
  • Self-defense tactics;
  • De-escalation techniques;
  • Appropriate physical restraint and seclusion techniques;
  • Crisis intervention;
  • Trauma-informed care and strategies;
  • Clinician well-being practices;
  • How to safely address situations that involve patients, family members, or other individuals who pose a risk of self-harm or harm to others;
  • How to report incidents of workplace violence to the hospital, hospital security, law enforcement, and other entities designated by the hospital.
• An annual review and evaluation of the security plan. The safety plan and any revisions must be shared with all hospital employees, volunteers, the hospital’s board of directors, and any other partners identified by the security plan development team.
• A workplace violence incident reporting system that can be used to document, track, analyze, and evaluate incidents of violence at the hospital. Hospital employees must receive training on the use of the system.
• A non-discrimination and non-retaliation policy so that employees do not face negative consequences for reporting or seeking assistance in the event of violence.
• A posted notice indicating that hospital employees do not tolerate an unsafe work environment where any type of threatening or aggressive behavior is present, and that there are serious legal consequences for assaulting hospital employees.

Related information

• Workplace violence prevention - ezExplanation
• Active shooter - ezExplanation
• Workplace violence in health care - ezExplanation
• Workplace violence in retail - ezExplanation

Citations

• Act 9 (An Act relating to preventing workplace violence in hospitals)
• 29 USC 654 — Duties of employers and employees (General Duty Clause)