Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 3.djvu/879

 PUBLIC LAW 106-430—NOV. 6, 2000 114 STAT. 1901 Public Law 106-430 106th Congress An Act To reqtiire changes in the bloodbome pathogens standard in effect under the Occupa- Nov. 6, 2000 tional Safety and Health Act of 1970. [H.R. 5178] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Needlestick Safety and SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Prevention Act. This Act may be cited as the "Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act". SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) Numerous workers who are occupationally exposed to bloodbome pathogens have contracted fatal and other serious viruses and diseases, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials in their workplace. (2) In 1991 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a standard regulating occupational exposure to bloodbome pathogens, including the human immunodeficiency virus, (HIV), the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and the hepatitis Cvims(HCV). (3) Compliance with the bloodbome pathogens standard has significantly reduced the risk that workers will contract a bloodbome disease in the course of their work. (4) Nevertheless, occupational exposure to bloodbome pathogens from accidental sharps injuries in health care settings continues to be a serious problem. In March 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that more than 380,000 percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps occur annually among health care workers in United States hospital settings. Estimates for all health care settings are that 600,000 to 800,000 needlestick and other percutaneous injuries occur among health care workers annually. Such injuries can involve needles or other sharps contaminated with bloodbome pathogens, such as HIV, HBV, or HCV. (5) Since publication of the bloodbome pathogens standard in 1991 there has been a substantial increase in the number and assortment of effective engineering controls available to employers. There is now a large body of research and data concerning the effectiveness of newer engineering controls, including safer medical devices. (6) 396 interested parties responded to a Request for Information (in this section referred to as the "RFI") conducted

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