,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bdjh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #af1 #bjae,mr4
 ,frank5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to direct ! ,secret>y (     
,labor to issue an occupational safety &
 heal? /&>d to r$uce injuries to        
pati5ts1 nurses1 & all o!r heal? c>e    
work]s by e/abli%+ a safe pati5t h&l+1  
mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>d1 & =  
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title2 f9d+s2  
table ( cont5ts  7a7 ,%ort ,title ,?is  
,act may be cit$ z ! ,nurse & ,heal?    
,c>e ,work] ,protection ,act ( #bjae4   
7b7 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3     
7#a7 ,9 #bjad1 regi/]$ nurses rank$ six?
 among all occupations = ! numb] ( cases
 ( musculoskeletal disord]s result+ 9   
days away f "w1 ) #aa1cfj total cases4  
,nurs+ assi/ants report$ #bj1jbj cases 9
 #bjad1 ! second highe/ ( any pr(ession4
 ,! lead+ cause ( ^! heal? c>e          
employees' injuries is pati5t lift+1    

transf]r+1 & reposition+ injuries1 :i*  
con/itute a significant risk to ! heal? 
& welf>e ( ^? employees "u !            
,occupational ,safety & ,heal? ,act (   
#aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fea et seq474     
7#b7 ,! physical dem&s ( ! nurs+        
pr(ession lead _m nurses to leave !     
pr(ession4 ,fifty-two p]c5t ( nurses    
compla9 ( *ronic back pa9 & #ch p]c5t   
suff] f pa9 sev]e en\gh to require leave
 f "w4 ,_m nurses & o!r heal? c>e work]s
 suff]+ back injury d n return to "w4   
,^! consequ5ces con/itute a mat]ial     
impairm5t ( heal? = ^! employees "u !   
,occupational ,safety & ,heal? ,act (   
#aigj4  7#c7 ,pati5ts are n at optimum  
levels ( safety :ile be+ lift$1         
transf]r$1 or reposition$ manually4     
,appropriate me*anical lifts c          
sub/antially r$uce sk9 te>s & pressure  
ulc]s suff]$ by pati5ts & ! frequ5cy (  
pati5ts be+ dropp$1 ?us all[+ pati5ts a 
saf] means to progress ?r\gh _! c>e &   
avoid disabl+ injuries due to unsafe    
practices4  7#d7 ,! developm5t (        

assi/ive pati5t h&l+ te*nology1         
equipm5t1 & devices has ess5tially r5d]$
 ! act ( /rict manual pati5t h&l+       
outdat$ & typically unnecess>y z a      
function ( nurs+ c>e4  7#e7 ,a gr[+     
numb] ( heal? c>e facilities t h        
incorporat$ pati5t h&l+ te*nology &     
practices h report$ positive results4   
,injuries among nurs+ /aff & heal? c>e  
work]s h dramatically decl9$ at heal?   
c>e facilities implem5t+ safe pati5t    
h&l+ te*nology1 equipm5t1 devices1 &    
practices4 ,z a result1 ! numb] ( lo/ "w
 days due to injury & /aff turnov] has  
decl9$4 ,/udies h also %[n t assi/ive   
pati5t h&l+ te*nology successfully      
r$uces work]s' comp5sation co/s =       
musculoskeletal disord]s4  7#f7 ,a numb]
 ( ,/ates h implem5t$ safe pati5t h&l+1 
mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>ds4 ,!  
success ( ^! programs at ! facility &   
,/ate level demon/rates ! te*nological &
 economical feasibility ( su* /&>ds4    
7#g7 ,e/abli%+ a safe pati5t h&l+1      
mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>d =     

direct-c>e regi/]$ nurses & o!r heal?   
c>e work]s is a critical compon5t       
reasonably necess>y = protect+ ! heal? &
 safety ( nurses & o!r heal? c>e work]s1
 address+ ! nurs+ %ortage1 & increas+   
pati5t safety4  7c7 ,table ( cont5ts ,! 
table ( cont5ts ( ?is ,act is z foll[s3 
,sec4 #a4 ,%ort title2 f9d+s2 table (   
cont5ts4,sec4 #b4 ,safe pati5t h&l+1    
mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>d4,sec4 
#c4 ,application ( safe pati5t h&l+1    
mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>d to    
facilities receiv+ ,m$ic>e & ,m$icaid   
funds4,sec4 #d4 ,nonpreemption4,sec4 #e4
 ,def9itions4  #b4 ,safe pati5t h&l+1   
mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>d  7a7  
,rulemak+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision (  
law1 n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date (    
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,labor %all1 pursuant to section #f ( ! 
,occupational ,safety & ,heal? ,act (   
#aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fee71 promulgate  
an int]im /&>d on safe pati5t h&l+1     
mobility1 & injury prev5tion 79 ?is     
section su* /&>d is ref]r$ to z ! safe  

pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury         
prev5tion /&>d7 to prev5t               
musculoskeletal disord]s = direct-c>e   
regi/]$ nurses & all o!r heal? c>e      
work]s h&l+ pati5ts4 ,! int]im /&>d %all
 rema9 9 effect until x is replac$ by a 
f9al safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 &      
injury prev5tion /&>d4  7b7 ,requirem5ts
 ,! safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury
 prev5tion /&>d %all require ! use (    
eng9e]+ & safety controls to p]=m h&l+ (
 pati5ts & to r$uce ! incid5ce (        
injuries f manual h&l+ ( pati5ts by     
direct-c>e regi/]$ nurses & all o!r     
heal? c>e work]s1 ?r\gh ! developm5t ( a
 compreh5sive program1 to include ! use 
( me*anical te*nology & devices to !    
greate/ degree feasible4 ,:]e ! use (   
me*anical te*nology & devices is n      
feasible1 su* /&>d %all require ! use ( 
alt]native controls & measures to       
m9imize ! risk ( injury to nurses &     
heal? c>e work]s result+ f ! manual h&l+
 ( pati5ts4 ,! /&>d %all apply to all   
heal? c>e employ]s1 %all g5]ally align )

 int]pr(essional national safe pati5t   
h&l+1 mobility1 & injury prev5tion      
/&>ds1 & %all include ea* ( ! foll[+3   
7#a7 ,program developm5t ,a requirem5t t
 ea* heal? c>e employ] %all develop &   
implem5t a safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 &
 injury prev5tion program n lat] ?an #f 
mon?s ( ! date ( promulgation ( ! int]im
 /&>d1 & su* program %all include haz>d 
id5tification1 risk assessm5ts1 &       
control measures 9 relation to pati5t   
c>e duties & pati5t h&l+4  7#b7         
,te*nology & equipm5t pur*ase &         
managem5t ,a requirem5t t1 n lat] ?an #b
 ye>s aft] ! date ( issuance by !       
,secret>y ( ,labor ( ! int]im /&>d1 ea* 
heal? c>e employ] %all pur*ase1 use1    
ma9ta91 & make accessible to heal? c>e  
work]s1 su* safe pati5t h&l+ equipm5t1  
te*nology1 & accessories z ! ,secret>y  
det]m9es appropriate4  7#c7 ,heal? c>e  
work] p>ticipation ,a requirem5t t ea*  
heal? c>e employ] %all obta9 input f    
heal? c>e work]s1 to include direct-c>e 
regi/]$ nurses1 heal? c>e work]s1 _!    

repres5tatives1 & _! collective b>ga9+  
ag5ts1 9 develop+ & implem5t+ ! safe    
pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury         
prev5tion program1 includ+ tra9+ &      
education & ! pur*ase ( te*nology &     
equipm5t & necess>y accessories4  7#d7  
,data track+ & review ,a requirem5t t   
ea* heal? c>e employ] %all e/abli% a    
review program to analyze data relevant 
to ! implem5tation ( ! employ]s' safe   
pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury         
prev5tion program1 & %all acc\nt =      
circum/ances :]e safe pati5t h&l+       
te*nology or equipm5t 7 n utiliz$ 9     
accordance ) ! heal? c>e employ]s' safe 
pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury         
prev5tion /&>d4 ,ea* heal? c>e employ]  
%all ^u reque/1 make available _! f9d+s 
& data us$ 9 su* review1 to heal? c>e   
work]s1 _! repres5tatives1 _! collective
 b>ga9+ ag5ts1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,labor or
 o!r ,f$]al ag5cy4 ,ea* heal? c>e       
employ] %all ma9ta9 ! data & f9d+s f _! 
review = n less ?an #e ye>s4  7#e7      
,incorporation ( te*nology into         

facilities ,a requirem5t t ea* heal? c>e
 employ] %all consid] ! feasibility (   
incorporat+ safe pati5t h&l+ te*nology z
 "p ( process ( new facility design &   
con/ruction1 or facility remodel+4  7#f7
 ,education & tra9+ ,a requirem5t t ea* 
heal? c>e employ] %all tra9 heal? c>e   
work]s on safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & 
injury prev5tion policies1 te*nology1   
equipm5t1 & devices1 initially1 & on a  
cont9u+ annual basis1 & z necess>y4 ,su*
 tra9+ %all prep>e heal? c>e work]s1 to 
id5tify1 assess1 & control              
musculoskeletal haz>ds ( a g5]al nature1
 & ^? specific to p>ticul> pati5t c>e   
areas1 & %all be conduct$ by an         
individual ) k 9 ! subject matt]1 &     
deliv]$1 at lea/ 9 "p1 9 an int]active  
simulat$ po9t-(-c>e tra9+ & h&s-on =mat 
t reflects ! specific dem&s ( a heal?   
c>e work]s' duties4  7#g7 ,notice ( safe
 pati5t h&l+ & rights "u ?is ,act ,a    
requirem5t t ea* heal? c>e employ] %all 
po/ a uni=m notice 9 a =m specifi$ by ! 
,secret>y ( ,labor t--  7,a7 expla9s !  

safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury    
prev5tion /&>d2  7,b7 includes in=mation
 reg>d+ safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 &   
injury prev5tion policies & tra9+2  7,c7
 expla9s proc$ures to report pati5t     
h&l+-relat$ injuries2 &  7,d7 expla9s   
heal? c>e work]s' rights "u ?is ,act1   
includ+ any :i/lebl[] protections4  7#h7
 ,annual evaluation ,a requirem5t t ea* 
heal? c>e employ] %all conduct an annual
 writt5 evaluation ( ! implem5tation ( !
 safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury   
prev5tion program1 includ+ h&l+         
proc$ures1 selection ( te*nology1       
equipm5t1 & eng9e]+ controls1 assessm5t 
( injuries1 & new safe pati5t h&l+1     
mobility1 & injury prev5tion te*nology &
 devices t h be5 develop$4 ,! evaluation
 %all be conduct$ ) ! involvem5t (      
nurses1 o!r heal? c>e work]s1 _!        
repres5tatives1 & _! collective b>ga9+  
ag5ts1 & _! input %all be docum5t$ 9 !  
evaluation4 ,heal? c>e employ]s %all    
take corrective action z recomm5d$ 9 !  
writt5 evaluation4  7#i7 ,"r to refuse  

unsafe assignm5t ,a requirem5t t ea*    
heal? c>e employ] %all provide proc$ures
 "u :i* a heal? c>e work] or employee   
may refuse to p]=m ! employee's duties  
if ! employee has a reasonable          
appreh5sion t p]=m+ su* duties w\ld     
violate ! safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & 
injury prev5tion /&>d1 & w\ld result 9  
injury or impairm5t ( heal? to ! heal?  
c>e work]1 o!r heal? c>e work]s1 or     
pati5ts4 ,:]e practicable1 ! heal? c>e  
work] mu/ h communicat$ ! heal? or      
safety conc]n to ! heal? c>e employ] & h
 n be5 able to obta9 a correction ( !   
violation4  7c7 ,inspections ,!         
,secret>y ( ,labor %all conduct uns*$ul$
 inspections "u section #h ( !          
,occupational ,safety & ,heal? ,act (   
#aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #feg7 to ensure    
implem5tation ( & compliance ) ! safe   
pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury         
prev5tion /&>d4  #c4 ,application ( safe
 pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury        
prev5tion /&>d to facilities receiv+    
,m$ic>e & ,m$icaid funds  7a7 ,9 g5]al  

,section #ahff ( ! ,social ,security    
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;cc7 is am5d$--
 7#a7 9 subsection 7a77#a77,v71 by      
ins]t+ & ! safe pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 &
 injury prev5tion /&>d 7z initially     
promulgat$ "u section #b ( ! ,nurse &   
,heal? ,c>e ,work] ,protection ,act (   
#bjae7 aft] r$esignat$72 &  7#b7 9      
subsection 7b77#d7-- 7,a7 9 subp>agraph 
7,a71 by ins]t+ & ! safe pati5t h&l+1   
mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>d aft]  
,bloodborne ,pa?og5s /&>d2 &  7,b7 9    
subp>agraph 7,b71 by ins]t+ or ! safe   
pati5t h&l+1 mobility1 & injury         
prev5tion /&>d aft] ,bloodborne ,pa?og5s
 /&>d4  7b7 ,effective date ,! am5dm5ts 
made by subsection 7a7 %all apply to    
hospitals z ( ! date t is #a ye> aft] ! 
date ( issuance ( ! f9al safe pati5t    
h&l+1 mobility1 & injury prev5tion /&>d 
describ$ 9 ! second s5t5ce ( section    
#b7;a74  #d4 ,nonpreemption  7a7 ,effect
 on o!r laws ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be   
con/ru$ to-- 7#a7 preempt any law1      
includ+ any rule or regulation1 ( a     

,/ate or political subdivision ( a      
,/ate1 unless su* law is 9 conflict )   
?is ,act or a regulation or ord] issu$  
"u ?is ,act2  7#b7 impair or dim9i% 9   
any way ! au?ority ( any ,/ate to enact 
& en=ce any law :i* provides equival5t  
or great] protections = employees engag+
 9 conduct protect$ "u ?is ,act2  7#c7  
curtail or limit 9 any way ! "r (       
individuals ) disabilities "u !         
,am]icans ) ,disabilities ,act ( #aiij  
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47 or       
section #ejd ( ! ,rehabilitation ,act ( 
#aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid7 to ^?        
reasonable modifications ne$$ to receive
 equal access to heal? c>e1 includ+ !   
requirem5t t heal? c>e employees give   
priority consid]ation to ! lift+1       
movem5t1 or transf] ne$s & pref]5ces (  
individuals ) disabilities2 or  7#d7    
preempt or modify 9 any way !           
application ( section #dd ( ! ,int]nal  
,rev5ue ,code ( #aihf ) respect to      
eligible access exp5ditures 7z def9$ 9  
section #dd7;c7 ( su* ,code7 ( an       

eligible small bus9ess 7z def9$ 9       
section #dd7;b7 ( su* ,code74  7b7      
,rights reta9$ by heal? c>e work]s ,no?+
 9 ?is ,act %all be con/ru$ to dim9i% ! 
rights1 privileges1 or rem$ies ( any    
heal? c>e work] or employee "u any      
,f$]al or ,/ate law1 or "u any          
collective b>ga9+ agreem5t4  #e4        
,def9itions ,= purposes ( ?is ,act3 7#a7
 ,direct-c>e regi/]$ nurse ,! t]m       
direct-c>e regi/]$ nurse means an       
individual :o has be5 grant$ a lic5se by
 n less ?an "o ,/ate to practice z a    
regi/]$ nurse & :o provides b$side c>e  
or outpati5t s]vices = "o or m pati5ts  
or resid5ts4  7#b7 ,employee ,! t]m     
employee means any individual employ$ by
 a heal? c>e employ]1 includ+ heal? c>e 
work]s1 employees :o d n qualify z heal?
 c>e work]s1 & indep5d5t contractors4   
7#c7 ,employm5t ,! t]m employm5t        
includes ! provision ( s]vices "u a     
contract or o!r arrangem5t4  7#d7 ,h&l+ 
,! t]m h&l+ includes actions su* z      
lift+1 transf]r+1 reposition+1 mobiliz+1

 mov+1 or any o!r action involv+ !      
physical movem5t1 manipulation1 or      
support ( a pati5t by a heal? c>e work]1
 or any direct pati5t c>e action :i*    
pres5ts a risk ( musculoskeletal injury4
  7#e7 ,heal? c>e employ] ,! t]m heal?  
c>e employ] means an outpati5t heal? c>e
 facility1 hospital1 nurs+ home1 home   
heal? c>e ag5cy1 social assi/ance       
facility or program1 hospice1 f$]ally   
qualifi$ heal? c5t]1 nurse manag$ heal? 
c5t]1 rural heal? cl9ic or              
rehabilitative c5t]1 or any simil> heal?
 c>e facility t employs direct-c>e      
regi/]$ nurses or o!r heal? c>e work]s4 
7#f7 ,heal? c>e work] ,! t]m heal? c>e  
work] means an individual :o has be5    
assign$ by a heal? c>e employ] to engage
 9 pati5t h&l+1 includ+ direct-c>e      
regi/]$ nurses1 indep5d5t contractors1  
or individuals :o p]=m ! duties ( heal? 
c>e work]s4