VERSION: Introduced

VERSION-DATE: February 11, 1999

SYNOPSIS:

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 50, Chapter 3, relative to occupational safety and health.

TEXT: BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-3-203, is amended by adding a new subsection thereto, as follows:

(1) Where appropriate, such standards shall reduce the transmission of bloodborne pathogens through needles. The commissioner shall review sharps injury prevention technology to include needleless systems and needles with engineered sharps injury protection.

(2) The commissioner shall determine those environments where standards require that sharps injury prevention technology be employed. Sharps injury prevention technology shall not be required wherever the employer or other appropriate party demonstrates that such technology is medically contraindicated or is not more effective than alternative measures used by an employer to prevent exposure incidents.

(3) Any such standard shall require written exposure control plans be adopted by employers. Written exposure control plans shall be revised to reflect improvements in sharps prevention technology. Written exposure control plans shall include the type and brand of device used in an incident of exposure.

(4) The department of labor and the department of health shall jointly compile and maintain a list of needleless systems and needles with engineered sharps injury protection.

This list shall be made available to all employers who use needles in the regular course of business.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

SPONSOR: Ford