On November 7, 2023, a mental health technician at Circles of Care Inc.’s Melbourne, Florida facility was attacked by a patient and sustained serious injuries. This incident has led to the company being cited by OSHA for safety lapses. The investigation revealed that Circles of Care did not have proper safeguards in place to prevent such incidents, resulting in a repeat violation citation. Additionally, the company failed to report the employee’s hospitalization within 24 hours as required by law.
As a result of these violations, Circles of Care now faces $101,000 in proposed OSHA penalties. This is the third time in five years that the company has been cited for safety lapses that resulted in serious injuries or fatalities. OSHA officials expressed shock at Circles of Care’s failure to protect its employees from the recognized danger of patient violence, which can cause serious harm and trauma to workers.
The Occupational Health & Safety Journal reports that Robert Yaniz Jr., Content Editor at Occupational Health & Safety provides updates and information related to occupational health and safety issues, including regulatory compliance, employee protection, and workplace safety. It is crucial for companies like Circles of Care to prioritize employee safety and ensure that they have proper safeguards in place to prevent incidents like this from happening again.
