Victories | Facts About Needlesticks and Bloodborne Pathogens
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Victories
 | November 6, 2000 - ANA President Mary Foley (far right) and MA Nurses Association President Karen Daley are among those who look on as President Clinton signed The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. |
ANA Press Releases
Articles
After years of efforts by ANA and other organizations, two major victories occurred in the ongoing struggle to protect health care workers from needlestick injuries: the publication of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Compliance Directive and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ALERT. These actions will reduce health care worker exposure to blood and prevent occupational transmission of AIDS, Hepatis B and C.
ANA strongly supports the Compliance Directive, but OSHA has no plans to enhance its enforcement programs or increase the number of OSHA inspectors. However, OSHA will conduct additional inspection in response to complaints. If your employer is not adhering to the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard as interpreted by the new Compliance Directive, it is essential that you contact your state's constituent member association (CMA) for information on how to file a complaint with OSHA.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Compliance Directive
On Nov. 22, 1999, NIOSH published an ALERT: "Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings." Unlike the Compliance Directive, employers are not required to adhere to the alert . NIOSH has no enforcement power. However, the ALERT can assist employers in developing a strong needlestick prevention program that will adhere to OSHA's Compliance Directive. You can order a free copy of the ALERT by calling 1-800-35-NIOSH and requesting Publication No. 2000-108.
ANA and RNs Nationwide Celebrate Law Aimed at Saving Nurses' Lives A federal measure takes effect today that will potentially save the lives of thousands of nurses and other front-line
health care workers each year by protecting them from dangerous
needlestick injuries, according to the American Nurses Association (ANA). (April 18, 2001)
ANA Celebrates Senate Passage of Needlestick Preventionm Legislation After a long campaign to educate the public and lawmakers by the American Nurses
Association (ANA) and its constituent member associations, nurses today
celebrate the passage of needlestick prevention legislation in the U.S.
Congress. Today the Senate unanimously voted to pass H.R. 5178/S.3067, the
Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Members of the House approved this
legislation on Oct. 4th. (10/26/00)
From The American Journal of Nursing:
Assessing Compliance
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