Maryland, Tennessee and Texas have passed laws that are helpful but not as strong. Sixteen other state legislatures have bills under consideration. In Congress, safe needle bills have been filed in both the House and Senate. Meanwhile, OSHA has announced it will move ahead on its own this fall. Opposition from the American Hospital Association delayed progress for years.
Safer needles are slightly more expensive.
About 600,000 to 1 million health care workers suffer needlestick injuries each year, and 200 to 300 workers die. Many others suffer irreversible liver damage from hepatitis. Join the Fight Against Needlestick Injuries Help stop the needlestick epidemic by sending a letter to your representative in Congress using the AFT's Contact Congress Web site. You can look up the name of your representative and send him or her a message. Write the message yourself, use a needlestick letter posted on the site or modify the posted letter with your own ideas.