Health provider charged after patient assaults nurse

Latrobe Regional Health faces three charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing, so far as was reasonably practicable, to provide a safe working environment.

It is alleged the organisation twice breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to maintain systems of work for recording any history of violence or aggression on patients’ medical records and implementing risk management strategies on that basis, and failing to provide or maintain a system of work whereby employees had mobile or personal duress alarms.

WorkSafe further alleges Latrobe Regional Health breached section 21(2)(e) of the OHS Act by failing to provide necessary information or instruction to employees about the location of fixed duress alarms at the hospital.

The matter is listed for a first mention at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on 1 July 2026.