Bill addresses worker safety in threatening situations
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Bill addresses worker safety in threatening situations

Date: February 10, 2010
By: Sara Randolph
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB1644

Intro:  Mental hospital workers say the law leaves them unprotected from violent patients at a Missouri House Corrections Committee Hearing.
RunTime:  0:44
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Mental health workers urged the committee to support a bill that would allow caregivers to defend themselves without penalty.

Former Fulton State Mental Hospital worker Jered Crawford gives an emotional testimony on behalf of the bill with his personal experiences.

Actuality:  CRAWFORD.WAV
Run Time:  00:16
Description: "Since I've worked there I've had my ribs broken, I've been punched in the face over fifty times, I've had my rotator cuff torn, my labrum torn. I have four visible bite marks, two visible shank marks, permanent contusions on both knees and I've had three concussions."

Crawford said the lost his job after he defended himself from a patient.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill but plans to continue the hearing next week.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Sara Randolph.

Intro:  Mental healtcare workers tried to pursuade the Missouri Corrections Committee to favor a bill to protect them from acts of criminally insane health patients.
RunTime:  0:44
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Calloway County Republican Representative Jeanie Riddle presented a bill at a Corrections Committee hearing regarding the use of force by a parent or caregiver in a case of self-defense.

The majority of witnesses were caregivers from the Fulton State Mental Hospital.

But the language of Riddle's bill would also allow parents and teachers of children to use force to protect themselves.  

Actuality:  RIDDLE.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "This was a way to actually get people to listen to what's happening in Fulton and so if you can't move the mountain you work your way around it and so that's what I'm trying to do."

Riddle says she is working on a substitute bill that will focus on the safety of patients and staff while utilizing tax dollars wisely.  

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Sara Randolph.