Oregon SB 537: A Major Step Forward for Healthcare Worker Safety

Oregon has taken a significant step toward protecting healthcare workers from workplace violence. With the passage of Senate Bill 537 (SB 537), healthcare organizations across the state will be required to implement stronger workplace violence prevention measures designed to safeguard nurses, caregivers, home health workers, hospice staff, and other frontline healthcare professionals. The law took effect on January 1, 2026.

For years, workplace violence in healthcare has been one of the most pressing yet underreported safety challenges facing the industry. From verbal threats and harassment to physical assaults, healthcare workers experience violence at a higher rate than nearly any other profession. SB 537 aims to address this growing crisis through prevention, training, reporting, and improved safety protocols.

Why Workplace Violence in Healthcare Is a Growing Concern

Healthcare workers are increasingly exposed to aggressive behavior from patients, visitors, and members of the public. According to the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), workplace violence injuries among hospital staff increased by 181% nationally between 2007 and 2022. Additionally, 92% of ONA members reported experiencing some form of workplace violence in the previous year.

The consequences extend beyond physical injuries. Workplace violence contributes to:

• Staff burnout

• Employee turnover

• Increased absenteeism

• Mental health challenges

• Reduced quality of patient care

• Staffing shortages

When healthcare workers do not feel safe, healthcare systems struggle to recruit and retain experienced professionals, ultimately impacting patient outcomes.

What Is Oregon SB 537?

Senate Bill 537 is comprehensive workplace violence prevention legislation designed specifically for healthcare settings. The law applies to hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice programs throughout Oregon.

The legislation focuses on proactive measures that help identify risks before incidents occur while also strengthening employer responses when workplace violence happens.

Key Provisions of SB 537

1. Legal Definition of Workplace Violence

For the first time, Oregon law provides a clear and comprehensive definition of workplace violence in healthcare settings. Under SB 537, workplace violence includes acts of physical violence, threats of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, assault, homicide, and other threatening behaviors that occur in the workplace. By establishing this broader definition, the law recognizes that workplace violence in healthcare extends beyond physical attacks and can include behaviors that create fear, emotional distress, or safety concerns for employees.

This definition strengthens workplace violence prevention efforts by ensuring healthcare organizations address a wide range of risks through consistent reporting, investigation, violence prevention training, and employee safety programs. Ultimately, SB 537 helps improve healthcare worker safety by creating a more proactive approach to identifying, documenting, and preventing healthcare workplace violence before incidents escalate.

2. Annual Workplace Violence Prevention Training

Healthcare employers must provide annual workplace violence prevention training for employees and contracted security personnel. This training is intended to improve awareness, de-escalation techniques, incident response, and overall preparedness.

3. Employee Identity Protection

Healthcare workers will have the right to display only their first name on employee identification badges. This measure helps reduce risks associated with stalking, harassment, and retaliation outside of the workplace.

4. Violence Risk Flagging Systems

Hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice providers must implement systems that identify individuals with a known history of violent behavior. These flagging systems allow staff to prepare appropriately and take preventive measures before an incident escalates.

5. Enhanced Emergency Department Security

New or remodeled emergency departments will be required to install bullet-resistant barriers or protective enclosures at intake areas. Emergency departments are often among the highest-risk locations for workplace violence incidents in healthcare.

6. Home Health and Hospice Safety Assessments

Home healthcare workers face unique risks because they often work alone in unfamiliar environments. Under SB 537, home health organizations must gather information during patient intake to identify health and safety risks before caregivers enter a residence.

7. Improved Incident Reporting and Trauma-Informed Response

The legislation strengthens reporting requirements and encourages trauma-informed responses after incidents occur. This helps ensure affected employees receive appropriate support and organizations can identify patterns that require intervention.

What SB 537 Means for Lone Workers in Healthcare

One of the most important aspects of SB 537 is its impact on home health and hospice professionals. These employees often work alone, making them particularly vulnerable to violence, threats, and emergencies.

The law recognizes that healthcare workplace violence prevention must extend beyond hospital walls. Risk assessments, information sharing, and proactive safety planning can help organizations better protect caregivers working in patients' homes.

For healthcare organizations, this creates an opportunity to evaluate broader lone worker safety strategies, including:

• Dynamic risk assessments

• Workplace violence prevention programs

• Employee safety training

• Emergency escalation procedures

• Incident reporting systems

• Personal safety technology and panic alarm solutions

Download Lone Working Policy Template.

Building on Oregon's Commitment to Safer Healthcare

SB 537 builds upon Oregon's broader efforts to improve healthcare working conditions. The legislation follows the state's recent safe staffing initiatives, which sought to address nurse staffing levels and improve patient care outcomes. Together, these reforms reflect a growing recognition that employee safety and patient safety are closely connected.

Healthcare organizations that invest in workplace violence prevention often experience benefits beyond compliance, including improved employee retention, reduced workers' compensation claims, greater workforce satisfaction, and stronger patient experiences.

What Healthcare Organizations Should Be Doing Now

Now that SB 537 is in effect, healthcare employers should ensure their workplace violence prevention programs meet all applicable requirements. Organizations should review and update training programs, incident reporting procedures, security measures, risk assessment processes, and lone worker safety protocols to identify and address any compliance gaps.

Healthcare leaders should also evaluate whether employees—particularly those working alone in home health and hospice settings—have access to the tools and support needed to stay safe in the field. Ongoing monitoring, employee feedback, and regular program reviews can help organizations maintain compliance while fostering a stronger culture of safety.

The passage and implementation of SB 537 signal a clear shift toward proactive workplace violence prevention rather than reactive incident management. As violence against healthcare workers continues to rise nationwide, Oregon's approach may serve as a model for other states looking to strengthen protections for frontline caregivers.

Download Workforce Violence Prevention Checklist.

Final Thoughts

Healthcare workers dedicate their careers to caring for others, often under challenging and unpredictable circumstances. Oregon SB 537 acknowledges the growing threat of workplace violence and establishes meaningful protections for nurses, caregivers, home health workers, and hospice professionals.

By focusing on prevention, training, risk assessment, and employee support, the legislation aims to create safer healthcare environments for workers and patients alike. Now that the law is in effect, healthcare organizations should continue strengthening workplace violence prevention strategies and ensuring frontline staff have the protection they deserve.

Download Dynamic Risk Assessment Template.

How SoloProtect Can Support Healthcare Worker Safety

While policies, training, and risk assessments are critical components of workplace violence prevention, technology can play an important role in protecting healthcare workers—especially those who work alone. SoloProtect provides lone working devices and lone worker app solutions designed to help organizations respond quickly when employees face threats, violence, medical emergencies, or other safety incidents.

Features such as discreet panic alarms, GPS location tracking, 24/7 monitoring, and emergency escalation capabilities can help healthcare organizations enhance employee safety while supporting compliance with workplace violence prevention initiatives like SB 537. For home health, hospice, community care, and other mobile healthcare professionals, personal safety technology can provide an additional layer of protection when working outside traditional healthcare facilities.

As healthcare organizations continue adapting to Oregon's workplace violence prevention requirements, integrating comprehensive lone worker safety solutions can help create safer environments for employees and improve overall workforce confidence and well-being.

Ready to learn how SoloProtect can support your healthcare worker safety program? Contact us today to schedule a consultation.