Ohio Passes Needlestick Protection Legislation

July 12, 2000
Needlestick protection legislation in Ohio will require the use of needlestick safety devices by\r\nhealthcare workers, thus saving injuries and lives.

The Ohio Nurses Association cheered in victory when the state''s Needlestick Protection Legislation was signed by Ohio Gov. Robert Taft last week.

The bill will require the use of needlestick safety devices by healthcare workers, thus saving injuries and lives.

Ohio Sen. Dan Brady, who sponsored Senate Bill 183, said, "the bill has the potential to save Ohio at least $132 million annually by requiring the use of a 35 cent safe needle to prevent needlestick injuries to an estimated 40,000 Ohio healthcare workers annually."

The components of the bill require the formation of a subcommittee made up of at least 50 percent of front-line public healthcare workers to conduct the following duties:

  • Study methods to protect from exposure incidents, including needleless systems, engineered sharps injury protection; also disposal devices such as needle incinerators.
  • Study prevention procedures, including training and education, increase use of vaccinations, strategic placement of sharps collectors and use of protective equipment.
  • From this study, the subcommittee will create a list of recommended practices and systems.

These recommendations will be adopted six months after the effective date as a standard, known as the Ohio Employment Risk Reduction Standard.

Employers are required to do the following under the legislation:

  • Select engineering and work practice controls which include needlestick prevention devices that are OSHA compliant.
  • Develop exposure control plans and update them at least yearly.
  • Train employees in the use of these devices .
  • Maintain records of exposure incidents.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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