STAND. COM. REP. NO. 472

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 233
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 233 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A STUDY OF LATEX PRODUCTS IN
     HAWAII BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of
Health (DOH) to conduct a study of the health consequences of the
use of latex products in the provision of health care.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawaii Nurses' Association (HNA).  The DOH provided
informational testimony.

     Your Committee finds that about one to six per cent of the
general population and about eight to 12 per cent of regularly
exposed health workers have an allergy to latex products,
especially latex gloves as used by health care workers.

     One study of exposed hospital workers found 54 per cent of
sensitized workers had latex asthma, with an overall prevalence
of latex asthma found to be 2.5 per cent.  If national statistics
are applied to Hawaii's health care workers, 600 or 10 per cent
of the approximately 6,000 registered and licensed practical
nurses are sensitized to latex.

     According to the HNA, glove powder is a strategic factor in
allergen exposure.  Cornstarch donning powder actively extracts

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 472
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and binds protein from latex, which accumulates on the glove
wearer's hands, transfers onto objects, and aerosolizes.
Airborne particles of powder and protein may remain suspended for
up to five hours, contaminating the air, ventilation system,
skin, hair, clothing, wounds, and objects which can result in
occupational asthma.  Low allergen, powder-free gloves decrease
allergen exposure to patients and health care workers, and reduce
the incidence of allergic reactions and occupational asthma among
sensitized workers.

     Your Committee believes that a comprehensive study is
warranted to ascertain the nature and extent of the problem in
order to determine solutions and alternatives.  However, your
Committee has amended this measure on the recommendation of the
HNA to specify items that the DOH study should include.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 233, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 233,
S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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