Thanks in great part to a growing effort by the SNAs, the number of bills on the subject of needlestick injury prevention has more than doubled from last year and has awakened a nation since the first law was passed in CA in 1998.  As evidenced by the map and these statistics, the work is not yet complete and the effort must continue to reduce the over 1 million injuries due to sharps each year.

Fifty-three bills in 25 states are being considered this legislative session.  Thus far, 10 have become law and 1 is pending in the Governor's offices.  AL has a House Joint Resolution that is pending adoption as a conference committee report which would create a study on bloodborne pathogen standards.  Carrying on the pattern that began with CA, the new laws in GA, IA, ME, MD, MN, NH, NE, AK, CT and WV generally require the appropriate state government departments to adopt, study, or make recommendations regarding bloodborne pathogen standards, require the use of needles or sharps protection devices and the maintenance of an injury log.  The bill pending governors’ signature in  OH also has such requirements