Location: Austin, TX
Hi, was wondering if I could get any advice from any folks. I got my hair violently pulled today at work. I work at a psych hospital here in Austin, and I had to restrain an aggressive patient two times with my co workers, and in the process of the second restraint I got my hair aggressively pulled twice by a patient for several minutes. Fortunately, no major damage occurred, but I’m wondering if I can possibly sue the patient or the workplace or possibly seek compensation of any kind.
I recently started last month, and I’ve previously been sexually harassed two times and requested to move my unit after those two incidents (both incidents happened on the highest acuity unit). However, I was put back on the unit I’ve requested to not be put on today by my manager (was one of the only male staff that day) and this incident occurred. I’m wondering if I can possibly pursue legal action of any sort — physical restraints are to be expected at my workplace (I work with high acuity psychiatric patients), but this patient in particular wasn’t medically psychotic and the incident was triggered by behavioral issues according to the nurses.
I’ve had a coworker physically assaulted (beat up and left with scars) and another who also had her hair pulled to the point where her scalp was bleeding, and they filed separate police reports to no avail. Workers here have been bitten by patients and have had to be rushed to the ER. I understand I am at risk by working at this hospital, but I’m trying to explore my options because my hospital’s administration has a consistent history of neglecting worker safety (it’s a UHS facility with no security or police on standby, and worse incidents have occurred).
I’m wondering if this is even a case worth pursuing because many physically violent incidents here get brushed under the rug — the hospital implements no interventions to protect their workers (we’re just expected to restrain based on training we’ve received), and I understand I am technically putting myself at risk by working at this facility. When I was sexually harassed the second time (had a patient stalk me and felt at risk of assault), no incident was filed and my nursing supervisor didn’t speak to me despite me talking to my house supervisor.
I will be leaving this hospital soon, but I wanted help exploring my options, since my hospital’s administration has a consistent record of neglecting worker safety (lack of security measures, lack of concern, and moving me back to the unit I requested not to work on).
Thank you very much.