Oregon Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention (SB 537)

Summary

Oregon Senate Bill 537, signed by Governor Tina Kotek on July 17, 2025, is a comprehensive healthcare workplace violence prevention law that took effect January 1, 2026. The law applies to hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice programs operating in Oregon. It represents one of the most expansive state-level healthcare workplace violence statutes in the country and is distinct from Oregon HB 3083 (Alyssa's Law), which addresses school panic alert systems.

SB 537 adopts an expanded definition of workplace violence that encompasses not only physical assaults but also threats, harassment, intimidation, and other non-physical forms of abuse — aligning with OSHA's definition of workplace violence.

Key Requirements

• Workplace Safety Committees: Covered healthcare employers must establish safety committees composed of both administration and frontline healthcare workers to assess risks, review incidents, and develop prevention strategies.
• Incident Tracking and Reporting: Employers must track all violent incidents and report them to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS). The Department publishes annual summaries of reported data.
• Annual Training: Workplace violence prevention training must be conducted annually for all employees and contracted security personnel, including emergency response guidelines and notification procedures for threats or occurrences of workplace violence.
• Physical Security Requirements: Newly built or renovated hospital emergency departments must install bullet-resistant barriers or enclosures in intake areas. Facilities must implement flagging systems to alert staff to patients with a known history of violent behavior.
• Post-Incident Response: Employers must investigate every incident of workplace violence, conduct post-incident interviews, and provide appropriate support to affected employees including first aid, medical treatment, and trauma counseling.
• Anti-Retaliation: The law includes strong protections prohibiting retaliation against employees who report incidents of workplace violence.

Compliance Deadline

January 1, 2026 (effective date). New physical security requirements for newly built or renovated emergency departments apply on an ongoing basis.

Affected Entities

Oregon hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice programs. Does not apply to K-12 schools (see Oregon HB 3083 for school panic alert requirements).

Relationship to Oregon HB 3083

Oregon HB 3083 (Alyssa's Law, enacted 2025) addresses panic alert systems in K-12 schools. SB 537 is a separate law focused entirely on healthcare workplace violence prevention. Both are now in effect in Oregon.