Union demands safety measures after fatal stabbing of social worker at SF General Hospital
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- In San Francisco, last week's deadly stabbing that killed a 51-year-old social worker has raised numerous safety concerns.
On Wednesday, following the tragedy, the union representing social workers at SF General and UC hospitals issued a list of demands.
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."
RELATED: SF General strengthening security protocols after social worker fatally stabbed during attack
Authorities say a 34-year-old man armed with a kitchen knife stabbed and killed Alberto Rangel, a social worker.
"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.
"They're common sense. They should already be in place," said Juliette Suarez, a licensed clinical social worker and member of UPTE CWA 9119.
RELATED: SF General Hospital stabbing suspect charged with murder, DA Brooke Jenkins says
The demands include:
- An immediate written safety plan before staff are expected to resume normal operations.
- A commitment to provide safe staffing levels for campus behavioral health teams.
- Protected time off that does not draw from employees' sick or vacation banks.
- Immediate support for affected staff and teams.
- Ongoing structural improvements to workplace violence prevention.
RELATED: Social worker fatally stabbed at SF hospital remembered by community as 'devoted to his patients'
"These are demands we have already requested time and time again from leadership prior to this devastating loss to our community," Suarez said.
The union will also rally for those demands on Thursday at 5 p.m. outside the hospital.
The Department of Public Health reiterated that it is conducting an internal investigation. An outside security firm will review security protocols, infrastructure and safety management.
Department of Public Health also says changes at SF General hospital have already been made. That include installing a weapons detection system, restricting access and adjusting protocol for high-risk threats to staff safety.
