NEW WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION LAW ENACTED
On December 12, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that enacted New York State’s new workplace violence prevention law (Public Health Law § 2832). The bill (Senate Bill 5294B) was designed with a built-in 280-day delay before officially becoming active, making the effective start date September 18, 2026. This law, requires general hospitals and nursing homes to protect staff, patients, and visitors from workplace violence.
The key implementation dates for the law are:
- September 18, 2026: The law starts and Emergency Department security rules begin on this date.
- January 1, 2027: General hospitals must start annual safety and security assessments.
- September 18, 2027: Facilities have 12 months from the start date to have completed their written workplace violence prevention programs.
Similar to the New York State Department of Labor Public Employee Workplace Violence Prevention law (12 NYCRR 800.6), the main requirements for general hospitals and nursing homes are:
- Prevention Programs: Hospitals and nursing homes must create written programs to prevent workplace violence incidents.
- Security in Emergency Rooms: Facilities must keep security personnel in or near emergency departments. The exact number of guards required depends on local population sizes.
- Safety Assessments: General hospitals must review their buildings and security risks at least once a year.
- Worker Input: Hospitals must involve employees and their union representatives when developing their safetyplans.
CSEA has practical resources to assist members in participating in the development of their employer’s workplace violence prevention program that are available on the CSEA website at A-Z Safety Resources – CSEA NY
NEW INFORMATION ABOUT TICK-BORNE INFECTIONS
Did you know that there are now seven Tick-borne Infections?
Those tiny ticks can transmit several different illnesses — not just Lyme disease anymore. ER visits for tick bites are at a 10-year high according to the CDC. These little critters have been expanding into new territories for some time and bringing new illnesses with them. Lyme disease is no longer the only concern.
Infectious disease specialists are warning about several major tickborne illnesses that should be on your health radar. Tick bites can transmit multiple possible pathogens. A tick that is attached to you can transmit bacteria, parasites or viruses depending on the species and the region in which you live. Treatments can differ depending on the illness. Lumping every tickborne illness together as Lyme disease can lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment.
Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is most common in the Northeast and it transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick and most common. Symptoms typically appear three to 30 days after a tick bite and can include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and the classic bull’s-eye rash.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is more common in the Southeast and south-central U.S. It is caused by Rickettsia bacteria carried by American dog ticks, brown dog ticks and Rocky Mountain wood ticks. This infection can be particularly dangerous and can become a medical emergency if left untreated. Symptoms can include fever, headache, rash, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, muscle pains and loss of appetite. The rash typically develops two to four days after the fever begins.
Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are bacterial infections that can cause flu-like illness, including fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and usually without a rash. Anaplasmosis is typically spread through blacklegged tick bites and is most common in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Ehrlichiosis is caused by bacteria spread by infected ticks and can be contracted through bites from the lone star tick and the blacklegged tick, commonly found in the Southeast, south-central and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S.
Babesiosis is a parasite that infects red blood cells, similar to malaria, but is transmitted by a tick instead of a mosquito. It can cause serious anemia, especially in older adults or people without a spleen. It is spread by the blacklegged tick and is most common in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Symptoms can include fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea and fatigue. For some people, babesiosis can become life-threatening.
Alpha-gal syndrome, one of the newer tick-related illnesses on the medical radar, is not technically an infection. It is an allergy that is becoming an increasing concern. Alpha-gal syndrome can develop following a lone star tick bite and can cause the immune system to react to a sugar molecule found in meat from mammals and other mammal-derived products. People with alpha-gal syndrome may need to avoid mammalian meat and, in some cases, dairy products or other mammal-derived products. Allergic reactions can be serious. There is no specific treatment for alpha-gal syndrome itself, so patients generally manage the condition by avoiding foods or products that trigger reactions.
Powassan virus can cause severe illness, including inflammation of the brain or the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Unlike the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, Powassan can be transmitted relatively quickly after a tick attaches. Although the disease is rare, cases have increased in recent years. Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting and weakness.
Should you develop a fever, headache, muscle aches or a rash in the days or weeks after spending time outdoors in a tick habitat — whether for work-related duties or in your personal life — see your health care provider as soon as possible. Explicitly mention a known or possible tick exposure or bite, even if you did not see a tick attached.
If you find a tick attached to you, carefully remove it with tweezers, grasping it as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pulling upward with steady, even pressure. If appropriate, save the tick in a sealed container or plastic bag for possible identification and discuss the exposure with your health care provider.
Notify your employer if the tick bite occurred while you were working. Make sure you file an incident report and let your employer know as soon as possible if you are seeking medical attention as soon as possible.
For more information visit our page on Tick Safety.
MEMBER RESOURCES: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH
Materials & Publications
View/download – Our A-Z list of fact sheets: cseany.org/safety-resources
CSEA Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Specialists
Have a general safety concern?
Contact your OSH Specialist here: cseany.org/member-support
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