MEDIA RELEASE: NSHA Ordered to Conduct Safety Assessment at East Coast Forensic Hospital

The Nova Scotia Labour Board has ordered the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) to conduct a comprehensive violence in the workplace health and safety assessment of the East Coast Forensic Hospital (ECFH). This assessment must be conducted by an independent expert, as the Labour Board found it was “urgently needed.”

This order comes after a pregnant nurse was attacked at the ECFH in April 2018, and after a co-worker requested such an assessment two months before the attack took place.

“We are very pleased with the decision that has been ordered by the Labour Board,” said President Jason MacLean.

“It is unfortunate that the employer had to be ordered to do the right thing, and that they have dragged their feet on this process for such a long time. I am hopeful they will finally start placing a greater deal of importance on the safety of their frontline workers.”

Furthermore, this order puts all other employers in Nova Scotia on notice: that they are responsible for protecting the health and safety of employees and other persons in the workplace. We would like to thank the Labour Board for recognizing the significance of this issue, and for intervening.

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