Union demands safety measures after fatal stabbing of social worker at SF General Hospital

"Matias Campos is a faculty member and vice president of UPTE CWA 9119. He is worried about safety at SF General Hospital and UC hospitals after Thursday's incident. It happened in Ward 86 -- the HIV/AIDS clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. "I am a pharmacist. I did training at Ward 86 almost 10 years ago as a pharmacy resident," Campos said. "My students, my residents might be rotating on that clinic at SF General.""

""Last night, we had a meeting with a number of social workers who expressed being sexually assaulted at work, being physically assaulted at work," Campos said. According to union leaders, health care workers are five times more likely to be affected by a violent incident at work. On this Wednesday, the union announced a list of five safety measures they want met."

A fatal stabbing at Ward 86, the HIV/AIDS clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, prompted urgent safety concerns for staff. Union leaders report social workers have experienced sexual and physical assaults at work and note health care workers face elevated risks of workplace violence. The union representing SF General and UC hospital social workers issued five demands: an immediate written safety plan before normal operations resume, safe behavioral health staffing levels, protected time off that does not use sick or vacation banks, immediate support for affected staff, and ongoing structural workplace violence prevention improvements. Union officials called the measures common sense.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco