Duress alarm systems in healthcare environments
WHITEPAPER - While all businesses have their own challenges and risk profiles, there are specific challenges in the provision of healthcare services where staff are subject to threats and assaults from service users, family members, or associates.
Executive Summary
Every business or undertaking has a responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of staff and any others who could be put at risk in the conduct of its business operation.
While all businesses have their own challenges and risk profiles, there are specific challenges in the provision of healthcare services where staff are subject to threats and assaults from service users, family members, or associates.
Although Health NZ has not publicly released statistics on violence there are many reports in the media citing an increase in assaults and violence within healthcare facilities (Longmore,2023).
Many steps have been taken to address these threats with hospitals implementing a range of service-specific initiatives, particularly in areas of greatest need such as Emergency Departments, Acute Inpatient Mental Health Units, Adult Inpatient areas, and Outpatient Mental Health facilities. These
steps include greater use of integrated technology systems such as CCTV, Electronic Access Control, and importantly recognising risk by including both fixed and mobile duress alarm systems.
This whitepaper reviews the requirements for system specification, performance, design, integration, installation, deployment, and maintenance of duress alarm systems within healthcare facilities and makes suggestions on the need for recognising the differing requirements of staff in various facilities
and locations.