Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-17.28 - Hospital Workplace Violence Protection Act
Section 23-17.28-6. - Retention of records.

§ 23-17.28-6. Retention of records.
(a) A hospital shall maintain a record of assaults committed against employees that occur on the premises of the hospital. The record shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
(1) The name of the hospital and address of the premises on which each assault occurred;
(2) The date, time, and specific location where the assault occurred;
(3) The name, job title, and department or unit assignment of the employee who was assaulted;
(4) A physical description and identity, if known, of the person who committed the assault, and whether the assailant was a patient, visitor, employee, or other category;
(5) A description of the assaultive behavior as:
(i) An assault with mild soreness, surface abrasions, scratches, or small bruises;
(ii) An assault with major soreness, cuts, or large bruises;
(iii) An assault with severe lacerations, a bone fracture, or a head injury; or
(iv) An assault with loss of limb or death;
(6) A description of the physical injury;
(7) A description of any weapon used;
(8) The number of employees and witnesses in the immediate area of the assault when it occurred; and
(9) A description of actions taken by the employees and the hospital in response to the assault.
(b) A hospital shall maintain the records generated as a result of compliance with subsection (a) for no fewer than five (5) years following any reported incident.
(c) Upon the request of an employee directly involved in a reported incident, the hospital shall generate and make available to the requesting employee a full report including the information in the record required under subsection (a).
(d) Upon the request of an employee representative or of a workplace safety committee conducting a review, the hospital shall generate and make available to the requesting party a full report including:
(1) The information in the record required under subsection (a) excluding the name of the reporting employee; and
(2) Information regarding work-related injuries and illnesses recorded by the hospital to comply with applicable federal health and safety recordkeeping requirements.
(e) The director shall adopt by rule a common recording form for the purposes of this section.
History of Section.P.L. 2021, ch. 330, § 1, effective January 15, 2022; P.L. 2021, ch. 331, § 1, effective January 15, 2022.