Washington, DC -- “With today’s introduction of national
legislation aimed at reducing needlestick injuries in the workplace,
millions of American health care workers are one step closer to a
safer work environment. As the nation’s largest public employee and
health care workers union, AFSCME applauds Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA)
and Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) for introducing the Health Care Worker
Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention Act.
“The Health Care Worker Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention
Act will require the use of safety-engineered needles and sharps in
the health care arena in an effort to protect health care workers
from life-threatening injuries. For far too long, health care
workers have faced serious danger from infectious diseases caused by
needlestick and sharps injuries on the job. At least 20 different
bloodborne pathogens are transmitted by needlesticks, including HIV,
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. There are an estimated 600,000 to
800,000 occupational needlestick injuries each year and of those
injured, more than 1,000 contract serious diseases, including 40 to
50 who contract HIV.
“Working in an emergency room, hospital or clinic is like living
a game of Russian Roulette. Each year, one health care worker in
seven suffers a needlestick injury. And each year, thousands will
wait in agony for weeks or months to learn whether an accident --
which could have been prevented -- will cost them their health or
their life.
“In addition to the human cost of unsafe needles and sharps,
there is also a financial cost. Testing and prophylactic drug
regimens for those who have been injured by a contaminated needle
can cost thousands of dollars. The cost of treating one worker who
develops AIDS averages $25,000 per year. Liver transplants for
Hepatitis C patients can cost as much as $750,000.
“The need for a national standard is demonstrated by the fact
that legislation has been introduced in nearly 20 states this year.
AFSCME urges members of the U.S. House of Representatives to follow
the lead of these states and co-sponsor the Health Care Worker
Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention Act.”
