Copyright 2000 Plain Dealer Publishing Co.
The
Plain Dealer
July 7, 2000 Friday, FINAL / ALL
SECTION: METRO; Pg. 2B
LENGTH: 181 words
HEADLINE:
TAFT MAKES SAFE NEEDLES THE LAW AT HOSPITALS
BYLINE:
PLAIN DEALER BUREAU
DATELINE: COLUMBUS
BODY:
Gov. Bob Taft signed into law yesterday a
Clevelander's bill to shield health-care workers at MetroHealth Medical Center
and other public hospitals from needlestick injuries.
Sponsored by State Sen. Dan Brady, a Cleveland Democrat, the bill
requires the use of safe-needle technology to reduce
needlestick injuries. Nationwide, an estimated 1,000
health-care workers get deadly infections from needlesticks
each year, Brady said. Safe-needle technology includes needles that retract into
a sheath and no-needle injections.
Among groups endorsing Brady's bill,
and hailing its approval by Taft, were the Ohio Nurses Association, the
professional organization for Ohio's 138,000 registered nurses; and the Service
Employees International Union, which represents 15,000 Ohio health-care workers.
Brady's is only the second Senate Democratic bill in 18 months to become
law. The other, by State Sen. Linda Furney, a Toledo Democrat, lets the state
Wildlife Division sell gift certificates for hunting and fishing licenses. Taft,
a Republican, signed Furney's bill last year.
LOAD-DATE: July 8, 2000 
