WHEREAS:

AFSCME members in a variety of occupations are routinely exposed to infectious diseases:

• Hospital workers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics are exposed to hepatitis B, AIDS, herpes zoster, rubella, tuberculosis and many others.
• Sewage treatment plant workers are exposed to staphylococcus, influenza, hepatitis A, polio viruses, parasites, and fungi such as aspergillus fumigatus.
• Sanitation workers are exposed to lice, bedbugs, ticks, tetanus, dangerous bacteria, viruses and fungi growing in the garbage or carried there by rodents or other pests.
• Corrections officers are often exposed to infectious diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME members who work in these occupations have a higher incidence of disease, and at least one AFSCME member has died of a parasitic infection contracted at a sewage treatment plant; and

WHEREAS:

Proper training in preventive work procedures and inoculations are rarely provided by management. Furthermore, in many hospitals and correctional institutions, patients and inmates are often not screened for infectious diseases.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That strict infectious disease procedures be instituted in workplaces where the risk of infectious diseases exists; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That management keep complete records of all employees exposed to infectious diseases and that management provide, free of cost, worker training, periodic medical examinations where appropriate, proper personal protective equipment, sanitary facilities, Hepatitis B vaccinations and other necessary inoculations to all employees who are at risk; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME support increased government research into the causes and prevention of infectious diseases, and that AFSCME support the passage and strict enforcement of regulations controlling the disposal of dangerous waste.

SUBMITTED BY:

International Executive Board

Margaret K Jones, President
Gary Linger, Secretary
Local 1164, Council 6
Minneapolis, Minnesota