Occupational Hazards to Health Care Workers Getting on the Policy Agenda Rep. Eileen Cody RN

How Do You Get the Legislatures Attention? Examples of problems Data and studies Employer or union advocacy

Recent Initiatives affecting Health Care Workers Chemical exposure Assault of a Health Care Worker Workplace Violence prevention plans Needlesticks Latex allergies Ergonomics Limiting Mandatory Overtime

Exposure to Workplace Chemicals HB2696 passed in 1994 Required L&I to develop policies for adjudicating workers’ compensation claims involving chemically related illness In 2001 bills were introduced that would have made it presumptive that workers exposed to hazardous chemicals are covered by industrial insurance-none passed

Assault of Health Care Workers SB 5681 passed in 1997 A “simple” assault of a physician or nurse while working is punished as a felony third-degree

Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention Plans SB 5312 passed in 1999 required healthcare workplaces (except state hospitals) to develop workplace violence prevention plans HB 2899 passed in 2000 extended the requirement to state hospitals

Needlesticks In the Washington legislature bills were introduced in 1999 and 2000 to require the use of needleless systems where available The Feds took care of this one!

Latex allergies HB 1890 was introduced in 1999- it did not pass The bill would have banned the use of powdered latex products L&I developed rule that requires alternative gloves be available to employees who are allergic to the gloves

Ergonomics L&I began rule development in 1998 Final rule not adopted until May 2000 The rule requires employers with “caution zone jobs” to provide ergonomic awareness training and to analyze jobs for hazards The rule is phased in over 6 years and no penalties or citations for 2 years following each deadline

Limiting Mandatory Overtime Introduced and passed in 2002 Prohibits mandatory overtime but not voluntary overtime work Prohibition does not apply to emergencies, pre-scheduled on-call time, or when the employer has used “reasonable efforts” to obtain staffing

What’s Next? It’s up to you!