THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

163

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the legislative reference bureau to study the best practices available for protecting certain employees from long term exposure to hazardous wastes.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the mission of the Department of Health is to protect and improve the health and environment for all people in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, one of the goals of the Department of Health is to promote health and well-being; and

 

     WHEREAS, studies have shown that working with hazardous waste materials poses inherent risks to the health and safety of the people who handle them; and

 

     WHEREAS, specifically, there are certain chemical, biological, and accidental hazards associated with handling hazardous waste materials; and

 

     WHEREAS, some of these chemical, biological, and accidental hazards include exposure to known pesticides, bacteria, and carcinogens that may cause cancer if they are not treated properly; exposure to dust, fungi, and endotoxins that may lead to lung cancer among workers exposed to organic dust; and exposure to broken glass and used syringes that may lead to the transfer of bloodborne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus; and

 

     WHEREAS, the employees who collect and treat hazardous waste materials on a daily basis could suffer adverse health effects; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to study what are considered to be best practices available for protecting the health and safety of wastewater, refuse collection, and disposal systems workers from the dangers of long-term exposure to hazardous wastes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit a report of its findings to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2010 Regular Session; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the Hawaii State Director of the United Public Workers, and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

Report Title: 

Hazardous Waste Materials; Literature Review