Echoing protests across the state, about 20 workers demanded more security staff and new legislation to protect workers who said they often fear for their lives due to patient violence.

Health Services Union organiser Zelda Giblett said staff had been fighting since 2016 for increased security, and she said current conditions were putting hospital staff and the public at risk.

"At the moment, when someone starts attacking someone in the hospital and they're not a scheduled patient, all our security guys can do is ask them 'would you stop, please?'," she said.

"If they say no, they have to go ring the police.

"Patients are at risk, staff are at risk and visitors are at risk," she said.

Security workers at the hospital, who didn't want to be named, said staff were frequently asked to respond to aggression from patients.

"That could be a push, it could be a verbal up to full blown assault," one worker said.

"Could be ever second day, could be three or four time a day from the same patient."

He said security at the hospital couldn't be guaranteed.

"We can't guarantee Nanna, coming in here with her grandchild, is going to be safe if someone goes off because we don't have the staff and we don't have the power to cover it," he said.

"At what point do those people around here and in NSW say 'that's enough'?"

Staff said they wanted a minimum of four staff rostered on at the hospital 24 hours a day, with even numbers required at all times so staff could work in pairs.

"We're at the stage now where we have inadequate staffing numbers [and] inadequate legal coverage to do our job correctly," the security worker said.

"We have a facility here where for 128 hours of 168 it's patrolled by one guard. No-where else in the hospital do they work one-out.

"At what point does our life become less valuable than the health minister or the executive or the gardener?

"It's dangerous, it's absolutely dangerous. They're going to end up with one of us [security staff] in the morgue before they take us seriously. We can't guarantee anybody's safety, let alone our own."

Ms Giblett said promised security following the death of a nurse in 2008 had fallen short.

Workers in Orange agreed to cut the stop-work four hours to one to ensure disruptions at the hospital were kept to a minimum following advice from the Industrial Relations Commission on Wednesday night.

A spokesperson from NSW Health on Wednesday said the department was "committed to addressing security issues with its workforce", but was disappointed the stop-work action went ahead.

"NSW Health assures patients and families that Local Health Districts and Networks will have processes in place to minimise any disruption to patients or services as a result of any industrial activity," the spokesperson said.

Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said hospital workers in the Central West "are sick of being treated as punching bags".

"Nobody should have to put their own health and safety on the line just to do their job," he said, promising to keep fighting for "safe hospitals".

Member for Orange Phil Donato threw his weight behind those stopping work and said staff shouldn't be scared for their safety.

"The staff of our hospitals have made reasonable demands of this Government to provide increased security for their safety but have resorted to industrial action today because this government have failed to act appropriately or in a timely manner," said Mr Donato.