A similar bill, H.R. 5178, was approved on a voice vote in the House October 3. Passage of the bipartisan bill today will protect the estimated 600,000-800,000 nurses, doctors, emergency medical technicians, laundry and food service workers injured annually by needlesticks. The legislation amends Occupational Safety and Health Administration's 1991 Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, finally giving strength to that regulation's promise of protecting workers from exposure to acute illnesses. Moving this through Congress and into law has been a top priority of our union.
Safe needles save lives.
Health care workers echo Mr. McEntee sentiments. This legislation was urgently needed, especially with HIV and hepatitis so prevalent. Anybody who has to handle these needles in a medical setting is at high risk. State and local government workers in 27 states are not covered by OSHA, and therefore are not protected by the new law. Needles with integrated safety features are readily available at a cost of about 30 cents each, compared with 6-7 cents for regular needles.