THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            74
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF LATEX
    PRODUCTS IN USE IN HAWAII IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND
    MEDICAL FACILITIES.


 1        WHEREAS, there are now a number of scientific reports
 2   pointing to allergic reactions among medical personnel who wear
 3   latex gloves; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, individuals who typically wear latex gloves
 6   include doctors, dentists, nurses, dental assistants, and
 7   laboratory technicians; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, recent studies have claimed that as high as ten
10   per cent of the health care and medical professionals who wear
11   latex gloves suffer from allergic reaction, most commonly in
12   the form of a "contact dermatitis" or rash from proteins
13   contained in the latex; and
14   
15        WHEREAS, those who are exposed to higher levels of latex
16   proteins may develop severe and irreversible injury, including
17   anaphylaxis, suffocation, and death; and
18   
19        WHEREAS, demand for latex products have increased rapidly
20   over the last ten years, especially to protect against AIDS
21   transmission, allegedly resulting in a faster manufacturing
22   process that produces a higher protein content in the latex;
23   and
24   
25        WHEREAS, in some settings, the use of latex is so
26   prevalent that the air is contaminated with protein; and
27   
28        WHEREAS, there may be alternative materials to latex in
29   the manufacture of gloves for medical use; and
30   
31        WHEREAS, the nature, extent, and scope of the problem in
32   Hawaii is not well known; now, therefore,
33   
34        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
35   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
36   Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is

 
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 1   requested to conduct a study of the health consequences
 2   associated with the use of latex products in the provision of
 3   health and dental care; and
 4   
 5        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include but not be
 6   limited to an analysis of:
 7   
 8        (1)  The extent to which powdered latex products are used
 9             by health care and dental care providers in Hawaii; 
10   
11        (2)  The benefit to the health of patients and health and
12             dental care providers of limiting or eliminating the
13             use of powdered latex products or of lowering the
14             protein level in latex products used in the provision
15             of health and dental care; and
16   
17        (3)  The cost to health and dental care providers or to
18             employers of these providers of using only
19             nonpowdered low protein latex products in the
20             provision of health and dental care;
21   
22   and
23   
24        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study identify health and
25   dental care facilities, hospitals, and clinics that have
26   implemented or are in the process of implementing the
27   recommendations of the National Institute of Occupational
28   Safety and Health, including but not limited to:
29   
30        (1)  Providing workers with nonlatex gloves for use in
31             situations where there is little potential for
32             contact with infectious materials, such as food
33             service; 
34   
35        (2)  Providing barrier protection for handling infectious
36             materials; 
37   
38        (3)  Using reduced protein, powder-free latex gloves to
39             protect workers from infectious materials; 
40   
41        (4)  Ensuring that workers use good housekeeping practices
42             to remove latex-containing dust from the workplace;

 
 
 
 
 
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 1   
 2        (5)  Identifying areas contaminated with latex dust for
 3             frequent cleaning, such as upholstery, carpets, and
 4             ventilation ducts, and ensuring that workers change
 5             ventilation filters and vacuum bags frequently in
 6             latex-contaminated areas;
 7   
 8        (6)  Providing workers with education programs and
 9             training materials about latex allergy; 
10   
11        (7)  Screening periodically those workers who are high-
12             risk for latex allergy symptoms for purposes of
13             preventing long-term health effects; and
14   
15        (8)  Evaluating current prevention strategies if a worker
16             is diagnosed with latex allergy;
17   
18   and
19   
20        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health
21   report its finding and recommendations to the legislature no
22   later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
23   Session of 2000; and
24   
25        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
26   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health,
27   Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Dental Association, and the
28   Healthcare Association of Hawaii. 
29 
30 
31 
32                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________