Social workers demand UCSF improves safety after worker fatally stabbed by patient

"I was there when my colleague was killed in front of us. These are the list of demands from our union. We have also been trying to have a meeting for three months. It has been three months and one day and no one has been contacting us back about our safety about the inequities that exist."

"We just completed a survey of people that are working in these areas and the number one concern is workplace violence and sexual harassment on the job and we think the biggest way to address this is increase our staffing. Some of our social workers are seeing 500-600 clients assigned to them."

"I feel like this tragedy was preventable had different measures been taken."

UCSF social workers protested at the chancellor's office three months after colleague Alberto Rangel was fatally stabbed by a patient at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Workers reported repeatedly requesting meetings with leadership without response. Some have not returned to work since the incident. Union leaders identified workplace violence and sexual harassment as top concerns, noting social workers manage 500-600 clients each. The union survey indicates staffing increases are needed to address safety issues. UCSF stated it implemented security improvements and reinforced protocols with the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco