Thought you might be interested in this.  Love,  Amy

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URGENT: US House Republicans May Block OSHA'S Latex Allergy Bulletin

Please contact any politician you know to prevent this travesty. The OSHA
bulletin on latex allergy is way overdue and must not be blocked for political
or profit motives.

If you need information please contact me.

 Pax,
Ballew Kinnaman <[log in to unmask]> 512/442-8963
Discussion list owner:
       Allergy - Arthritis - PCHealth - Rubber - Thyroid
Rubber LISTSERV list ---> http://www.Immune.Com/rubber

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Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 11:03:06 -0500
From: [name removed]
To: EDL&SG <[log in to unmask]>, Allergy <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: HOUSE REPUBLICANS MAY BLOCK OSHA'S...

HOUSE REPUBLICANS MAY BLOCK OSHA'S LATEX ALLERGY BULLETIN

ANA To Testify To Congress About Need For Bulletin To Protect Health
Care Workers and Patients From This Preventable, Debilitating Hazard

Just as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was
preparing to release the long-awaited "Technical Information Bulletin:
Potential for Allergy to Natural Rubber Latex Gloves and Other Latex
Products," the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
of the Education and Workforce Committee called the American Nurses
Association (ANA), OSHA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
testify at a hearing on Thursday, March 25, 1999. ANA is concerned that
Congress may place the interests of businesses and profit over
protecting the health of registered nurses (RNs), other health care
workers, and patients by stopping OSHA from issuing the bulletin.

Latex allergy is a serious, growing problem that is potentially
disabling and deadly to health care workers and patients. The pending
bulletin is the first warning issued by OSHA about the dangers of latex.
The bulletin will serve as an alert to all employers that latex proteins
are a hazard. The bulletin will also encourage employers to take
universal precautions and provide synthetic, powder-free alternatives,
which are widely available and less expensive. In fact, some leading
hospitals, like Johns Hopkins Medical Center, no longer use latex exam
gloves. The ANA believes this bulletin is an essential first step to
protect health care workers and ultimately patients.

The ANA believes all health care institutions should eliminate the
unnecessary use of latex gloves when there is no risk of exposure to
bloodborne pathogens and they should implement the use of synthetic
alternatives and low-protein, powder-free latex gloves in all other
settings. ANA urges Congress to support OSHA's efforts to protect health
care workers and patients.

WHO: ANA Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Susan Wilburn, MPH,
RN, will testify

WHAT: U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Hearing of
the Education and Workforce Committee

WHEN: Thursday, March 25, 1999; 2 pm

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2175; Washington, DC

BACKGROUND: One in 10 of all registered nurses, and many other health
care professionals, develops a latex allergy due to repeated exposure to
latex protein allergens found in powdered latex gloves. Sixty percent of
children with spina bifida and other individuals with chronic illnesses
that require frequent operations are especially susceptible to
developing a sensitization toward latex. Latex allergy is a
debilitating, career-ending illness for extremely sensitized health care
workers. Symptoms and severity ranges from dermatitis to asthma and even
anaphylaxis. Latex allergy is one of the newest and still unabated
occupational hazards, but it is preventable and alternatives are
available.

CONTACT:
Michelle Nawar, 202-651-7122 or [log in to unmask]
Michael Stewart, 202-651-7048 or [log in to unmask]
website: http://www.nursingworld.org/rnrealnews/

Additional background info on latex allergy available at
http://www.nursingworld.org/rnnoharm/


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            NRLA = Natural Rubber Latex Allergy
                   NRL = Natural Rubber Latex
                         LA = Latex Allergic

         http://www.Immune.Com/rubber/disclair.html
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