Last month I reported the passage of a safe patient handling bill in Texas. Anne Hudson of Work Injured Nurses Group USA (WING USA) reports that Massachusetts, Washington, and California also have bills that are being considered:
Massachusetts HB 2662, "Relating to Safe Patient Handling in Certain Health Facilities" was introduced 12-1-04.
Washington State is planning re-introduction of safe patient handling legislation, after WA HB 1672 "Relating to reducing injuries among patients and health care workers" was stalled in committee in Feb. 2005.
In 2004, California AB 2532 "An act...relating to health facilities. Hospitals: lift teams" passed the Senate and the Assembly, but was vetoed on 9-22-04 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who said, "I believe this existing statutory protection and the accompanying workplace safety standards adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board are sufficient to protect health care workers from injury." For Governor Schwarzenegger's veto message:
California re-introduced safe patient handling legislation on 2-17-05 with CA SB 363 "Hospitals: Lift Teams."
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