HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06091998 - SD3 11
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SDA
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BOARD OF SIJPERN't50RS
��,D��.3 , `�., a, Contra ra
rRaMx: Supervisor Donna Gerber ..
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HATE: June 9, 1998
"""T: AB 1208 (Migden) Safety needles for health care workers
;;CMC REOUEaT(t}OR RECOMMENDATION(f)i SACKGROUNA AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider sending a letter to Assemblymember Migden expressing a support position on AB 1208
(Migden).
BACKGROUND:
A recent San Francisco Chronicle investigation regarding needlestick injuries raised serious
questions about the safety of our health care workers. The Chronicle reported that needles with a
simple safety feature, which often cost just pennies more to make, were available at least 10
years ago. Today, according to the Chronicle investigation, few have reached the hands of health
care workers.
Only S percent to 10 percent of syringes used for injections by the nation's medical workers have
safety features -- even though the safety technology has been available for more than a decade.
More than I million accidental needle injuries occur each year. Thousands of the injured will get
hepatitis C and other lethal diseases, including AIDS.
In 1992 OSHA adopted a regulation that unequivocally stated that hospitals and other health care
employers in 1992 must start using "engineering controls" such as self-sheathing needles to
protect workers from infection. Unfortunately, OSHA has not enforced this regulation and
neither has CAL OSHA, which is responsible for enforcing an almost identical California
regulation.
AB 1208 by Assemblymember Migden would require CAL OSHA to enforce the use of safety
needles with sliding sheaths and other protections against accidental sticks. AB 1208 is a
sensible way to protect health care workers from the deadly alts of needlestick injuries.
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OONT"1UED ON ATTACHMiMENT: ..�, vts SIGNATURL
I11O**M#NZAnOW CW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RICOMMENDATION Of BOARD CCMRMITTtE `;
-APPROVE .......o OT14FA
APPROVED Al REC:OMiNMtND>ELf XOTHER..,..,,_
won OF SU"RVWRS
I HERESY COMFY THAT""It A TRUE
.x..�tJ1iAMtMIt�W tA�IsaNT,,,,.�,� i AND CORRECT COPY Of AN AVn"TAKEN
AY11: NClts. AND E14-TO110 ON THE UINUTt1 Of TME BOARD
ASSENT. ASITAIN Of SUPERVisORs TME'WT't s"OWN.
Supervisor Gerber ATTEITED
C. Van Marter u.BATCHELOR.C{.ERK OF THE BOARDOF
SUPERVISORS AND COWN AOMAINtMATOR
aa1392 (10/E8) SY ,DEPUTY
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AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 18, 1.998
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 17, 1997
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE -1997-9$REGULAR SESSION
ASSEMBLY BILL No. 1248
Introduced by Assembly Member Migden
February 28, 1997
An act to add Section 144.7 to the Labor
Code, relating to employment.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL:S DIGEST
AB 1208, as amended, Migden. Reekh. teleffiedieifte
Occupational safety and health: safe needles.
Under existing law, the Occupational Safety and Health
Standards Board may adopt occupational safety and health
standards and orders, which are required to be at least as
effective as federal standards for all issues for which federal
standards have been adopted under the federal Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970. Pursuant to this authority, the
board has adopted general industry safety orders pertaining
to, among other things, occupational exposure to blood or
other potentially infectious materials.
This bill would require the engineering and work practice
controls adopted by the board for protection against
occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
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AB 1208 —2—
materials
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materials to require use of safe needles, including, but not
limited to, self-sheathing needles.
heftk4;t:
patients. it would feqeire the 4epftomem to submit the
.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
1
2 SECTION 1. Section 144.7 is added to the Labor
3 Code, to read:
4 .144.7. Engineering and work practice controls
5 adopted by the board for protection against occupational
6 exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials
7 shall require use of safe needles, including, but not limited
8 to, ,self-sheathing needles.
9 12�224) is added to Peit 1 of B4N44eft 106 of the ilea!
10 md Safety Code, to rea+
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16 paients h ingly beeft the stibjeef ef legis4ative_'
17 iftifiative,
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21 aboot aH of the issues ftsseeiafed with the fefmiftal4y +H
22 patient that wwene fnediefth legal, seeial,
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24 , ,
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-3— AB 1205
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2 terminally ill pa6ents.
3 (b) The Stafe Dep&-ffnenf ef ilef4th Selz ees sem
5 s:
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7 it patients.
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14 �r.Pert Vi r s 2 VIr r.: m th i CIi - - �t
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13 tefffliae4ly ill patients.
14 (4) Data on the r-elatiefiship and the
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16 Bare:
17 (6) Datft oft pro4gl-mants ift other- states that permit,
1$
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terffiifia4ly ill patiefits eft the following issues, iftejudjftg,-
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but nof limited to. ab&t4onmeftf by physieiftns who -a-
22 not pfeseribe adequate pain fnettiagement and odier
23 tfeatffient eptjonq,
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26 , anti oversight by fegttiat
27ftuther-ifies-
28 (e) The department shf4l shbmit the "art fa +he
29 Legislatare by itifte 1, 1998. The
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a
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