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After years of grassroots efforts by Nurse Alliance members, the federal Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000 was enacted.

The law, which brought about changes to the federal Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, is designed to protect health care workers from deadly needlestick injuries that can spread HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and other bloodborne diseases.

It applies to private health care facilities but does not cover public sector employees.

The need for the law was clear. Prior to its passage, an estimated 600,000 to 1 million needlestick injuries occurred annually -- nearly three thousand daily. More than 1,000 of those workers contracted a serious disease each year.

A 1997 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored study found that up to 76 percent of needlestick injuries were prevented when safer needles were used.

"I am happy and relieved, because this bill will help prevent other health care workers from suffering like I am," said Ellen Dayton, a former RN and SEIU Local 790 San Francisco member who contracted HIV and Hepatitis C from an accidental needlestick.