Copyright 2000 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
June 22, 2000, Thursday
SECTION: PREPARED TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 694 words
HEADLINE:
PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE CASS BALLENGER (R-NC)
BEFORE
THE HOUSE EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON
WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS
SUBJECT - "OSHA'S COMPLIANCE DIRECTIVE ON
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND THE PREVENTION OF NEEDLESTICK
INJURIES"
BODY:
"We are here today to discuss
OSHA's recently revised Compliance Directive on Bloodborne Pathogens --
specifically as it relates to a workplace hazard that has gained increasing
attention over the past decade -- the prevention of needlestick
injuries for health care workers. This is the first time our committee has met
to examine this issue.
"Let me start by thanking the many health care
professionals, from nurses to doctors to researchers, who have worked so
diligently to bring this issue to light. I know many are in the room today. "I
would also like to take a moment to welcome our witnesses. We appreciate their
willingness to take time out of their busy schedules to testify before the
Subcommittee. I note that we had many requests to testify at this hearing.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were unable to expand the panel. I
thank the manufacturers for providing us with a product display to help educate
us, and I thank others for their written testimony, including the Centers for
Disease Control, whose testimony I have read. But among our witnesses, I
especially want to thank Karen Daley, who graciously accepted the invitation of
the ranking member, Mr. Owens, and myself to be here today.
"We are here
to learn and to gain a better understanding of an important public health
problem confronting our health care workers. Over 10 million workers are
employed in health care industries in occupations ranging from doctors to nurses
to dental assistants. Nearly 80 percent of the health care workforce is female.
I would also add that many Members have heardfrom hospitals in their districts,
over the past year or so, about the nursing shortage in our country and the need
to recruit and retain more nurses.
"I dare say, however, that many
people, if they are anything like me, prefer to not have to see the doctor or
the nurse. But even for those of us who are not inclined to spend much time in
health care settings, we do know there is one problem for their profession that
we cannot avoid seeing. We know that health care workers are at great risk for
occupational exposure to all types of bloodborne pathogens.
"Research
over the last decade has demonstrated that accidental
needlesticks in health care settings not only happen, but when
they happen -- the consequences can be severe. We know that there are many means
used in the workplace to prevent such injuries, and that the development and use
of many 'safe-medical devices' is one of those means. We expect to hear about
all of those today.
"We are also aware that many states have been active
on this issue. Since 1998, more than twenty states have either passed or
considered legislation dealing with the use of 'safe medical devices.'
"But our role today is a federal one. The most recent federal action
addressing this issue has been OSHA's Compliance Directive on Bloodborne
Pathogens, which was revised in November of last year. We have certainly had our
debates over the past few years in this committee about other OSHA policies --
and about the many forms of OSHA regulation -- from letters of interpretation --
to compliance directives -- to the content of the regulations themselves.
"So today, we will hear about OSHA's revised Compliance Directive --
what its requirements are for dealing with bloodborne pathogens in the
workplace, what the requirements are for employers to make use of new
engineering controls -- namely, 'safe-medical devices' and about what employers
must do to comply with the actual OSHA standard. We are also interested in how
the revised Compliance Directive has been received and about how it is being
enforced.
"I look forward to a thorough and informative discussion
today. I greatly appreciate the cooperation and effort extended by the Ranking
Member, Mr. Owens, and indeed, by all the members of this Subcommittee, in
bringing this hearing together today. I appreciate the attention that many
Members, on both sides of the aisle, have given to this important issue. I hope
that we will, in fact, learn from our witnesses and educate both ourselves and
the public about this important public health issue."
END
LOAD-DATE: June 23, 2000 
