|
2008
HOSPITAL
LEGISLATIVE
ISSUES
PATIENT LIFTING AND HANDLING PRACTICES —
SUPPORT
HB 471 by Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama
City
SB 508 by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port
Richey
These bills require hospitals to
establish policies concerning safe lifting and handling
of patients; to form a committee of management and
employees to develop policy on safe lifting; and require
evaluation of the policy.
SPECIAL RISK RETIREMENT FOR PUBLIC ACUTE
CARE HOSPITALS — SUPPORT
HW
1479 by Yolly Roberson, D-N. Miami Beach
SB 2092 by Sen. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville
These bills would extend the Special Risk
retirement class to employees of public acute care
hospitals that serve as a trauma center and provides
treatment of deadly and crippling infectious diseases,
patients who have been accused or convicted of serious
violent crimes, patients exposed to hazardous materials
or biological agents because of a terrorist attack, and
patients whose treatment requires the use of extremely
toxic substances. This would help AFSCME members at the
Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, (Jackson
Health System).
TASK FORCE ON WORKPLACE SAFETY — SUPPORT
SB 652 by Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona
Beach
SB 967 by Rep. Audrey Gibson,
D-Jacksonville
In 1999, Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida
Legislature eliminated the Division of Safety in the
Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security and
repealed all of the safety laws covering public sector
employees. Florida law currently contains no provisions
regarding the general health and safety of public sector
workers at any level. Public employees are not covered
by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act
(OSHA). This has had tragic consequences. On January 11,
2006, an methanol explosion and fire occurred at the
Wastewater Treatment Plant (Bethune Point WWTP) in
Daytona Beach, killing two employees and severely
burning a third. The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
investigated and determined that the lack of federal,
state, and local safety oversight and programs was a
significant factor causing the fatal accident. The CSB
recommended that the state enact safety laws and rules
for public employees that at least meet the federal OSHA
minimum.
The safety task force bill is a first
step in bringing back safety laws for Florida public
employees. The 15 member task force will make a report
to the governor and Legislature with recommendations for
enacting workplace safety and health laws for the
state’s public sector employees.
|
