H.R. 5178 — Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

Summary

Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act - Revises the bloodborne pathogens standard, in effect under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) to include safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps injury protections and needleless systems, as examples of engineering controls designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens through needlestick and other percutaneous injuries. Requires certain employers to: (1) review and update exposure control plans to reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce such exposure, and document their consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices for such purpose; (2) maintain a sharps injury log, noting the type and brand of device used, where the injury occurred, and an explanation of the incident (exempting employers who are not required to maintain specified OSHA logs); and (3) seek input on such engineering and work practice controls from the affected health care workers (exempting employers who are not required to establish exposure control plans).

Requires such modifications of the standard to: (1) be in force until superseded by regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor under OSHA; and (2) take effect without regard to specified procedural requirements.

Legislative Actions

2000-09-15

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

2000-09-18

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1512-1513)

2000-09-19

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

2000-09-19

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

2000-10-03

Mr. Ballenger moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

2000-10-03

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8673-8680)

2000-10-03

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5178.

2000-10-03

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8673-8674)

2000-10-03

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8673-8674)

2000-10-03

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

2000-10-04

Received in the Senate, read twice.

2000-10-26

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11041-11043)

Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

Sponsors

Subjects

Summary

Full Text

Related Legislation

Legislative Actions

Ask about this bill