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Bloodborne Pathogens Rule Extended to Public Hospitals

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard now applies to public hospitals in the 26 states where public employees are not covered by federally approved state OSHA laws.

This badly needed protection was contained in the other-wise severely flawed Medicare prescription-drug bill passed by the Republican-controlled Congress and signed into law by President Bush. Effective July 1, 2004, these hospitals will be required to implement measures to protect workers from exposure to blood and other bodily fluids, including the use of safety-designed needles and sharps that can prevent needlestick injuries.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services within the Department of Health and Human Services, not OSHA, will be responsible for enforcing this requirement. The inclusion of this provision was the direct result of efforts by the AFSCME Legislation Department.

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