STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1958_______

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.C.R. No. 112
                                     S.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Labor and Public Employment,
to which was referred S.C.R. No. 112, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE
     OF WORKPLACE SAFETY PROTOCOLS ADDRESSING NEEDLESTICK
     INJURIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to urge the
development and use of workplace safety protocols addressing
needlestick injuries.

     In particular, this Concurrent Resolution resolves that all
health care systems in the State have in place by January 1,
2000, workplace safety protocols addressing needlestick injuries
and safer medical devices, including retractable syringes, to
assure workplace safety.

     Your Committees received testimony in favor of this measure
from the Department of Health, the University of Hawaii School of
Nursing, the Hawaii Nurses' Association, and the Hawaii
Government Employees Association.

     Your Committees find that needlestick injuries can transmit
various illnesses, including hepatitis B and C and the human
immunodeficiency virus, to nurses and other health care workers
caring for patients in publicly operated hospitals, clinics, and

 
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                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1958_______
                                 Page 2

 
community settings.  Needlestick injuries are an occupational
hazard because of the frequency with which they occur and the
severe health effects they can produce, including severe
psychological stress because of the threat of infection after an
exposure occurs.

     Your Committees further find that the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration has collected information on strategies
that have been successfully implemented in the workplace to
reduce the likelihood of contaminated needle injuries through the
use of safer medical devices.  Nevertheless, while there are now
safety features such as protective shields over the needles or
mechanisms that automatically retract the needle after use, most
health care facilities continue to use unsafe needles.  Your
Committees therefore agree that all health care systems in the
State must develop and use workplace safety protocols addressing
needlestick injuries and safer medical devices to better protect
nurses and other health care workers from contaminated needles.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Health and Labor and Public Employment that are
attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent
and purpose of S.C.R. No. 112, S.D. 1, and recommend that it be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Health and Labor
                                   and Public Employment,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
TERRY NUI YOSHINAGA, Chair         ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair

 
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