Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 16 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to express support for the policies contained in the American Nurses Association's Handle With Care campaign.

Your Committee finds that the American Nurses Association has launched a national campaign entitled "Handle With Care," which seeks to develop industry-wide health care efforts to prevent back and other musculoskeletal injuries. Your Committee further finds that the establishment of this campaign is in direct response to the significant number of severe work-related back and other musculoskeletal injuries suffered by nurses. As a result of the current labor shortages in the nursing workforce within this State and throughout the nation, efforts to protect and support safe and healthy work environments for nurses is of great importance. This measure demonstrates the Legislature's unqualified support of the Handle With Care campaign and its commitment to efforts to reduce the risk of work-related back and musculoskeletal injuries of nurses throughout the nation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 16, and recommends its adoption.