Nurse and Patient Safety & Protection Act of 2007

To direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and other health care providers by establishing a safe patient handling standard.

1/10/2007--Introduced.
Nurse and Patient Safety & Protection Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Director of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to establish a Federal Safe Patient Handling Standard to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for direct-care registered nurses and other health care providers working in health care facilities by requiring the elimination of manual lifting of patients through the use of mechanical devices, except during a declared state of emergency. Requires health care facilities to:
(1) develop and implement a safe patient handling plan consistent with such standard; and
(2) post a uniform notice that explains the standard and the procedures to report patient handling-related injuries. Requires the Secretary to direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to conduct audits of plan implementation and compliance. Authorizes health care providers to:
(1) refuse to accept an assignment in a health care facility if the assignment would violate the standard or if such provider is not prepared to fulfill the assignment without compromising the patient safety or jeopardizing the provider's license; and
(2) file complaints against facilities that violate this Act. Requires the Secretary to investigate complaints and to prohibit retaliation if violations occur. Prohibits health care facilities from retaliating with respect to employment against providers for such refusal or against any individual who in good faith reports a violation, participates in an investigation or proceeding, or discusses violations. Authorizes health care providers who have been retaliated against in violation of this Act to bring a cause of action in a U.S. district court. Entitles providers that prevail to reinstatement, reimbursement of lost compensation, attorneys' fees, court costs, and/or other damages. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program for purchasing safe patient handling equipment for health care facilities.


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Sponsor

• Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-14]
• and 1 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Joe Sestak [D, PA-7]
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Committees

• House Energy and Commerce
• 3 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Education and Labor
  • House Education and Labor
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.378

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
January 10, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• May 09, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
• Feb 02, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• Jan 10, 2007: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
• Jan 10, 2007: Referred to House Education and Labor
• Jan 10, 2007: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• Introduced on Jan 10, 2007.

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• Medical supplies
• Labor
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• Administrative procedure
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• Administrative remedies
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In the News

January 18, 2007 Driver killed, 3 CRPF men injured in accident

They said a fast moving Swaraj Mazda (HR 378/1478) carrying paramilitary CRPF troopers collided with a tanker (RJ-31G/0468) coming from opposite direction ...

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Source: GreaterKashmir.com (press release), India

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Blog Coverage

October 11, 2008 Safe Patient Lifting For Nurses

From the United American Nurses: ... your facility and for advocacy on HR 378, the federal safe patient lifting bill. ... Safe Lifting Portal Safe Lifting Practices for Nurses" ...covering topics from sling selection to . ...

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Source: Darwin

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April 26, 2008 Safe Lifting Portal Website RE: Federal Nurse and Patient Safety ...

SafeLiftingPortal.com provides the news that HR 378, the Nurse and Patient Safety and Protection Act of 2007, proposes a Federal Grant Program to provide financial assistance to facilities to help with the purchase of safe patient ...

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Source: The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources,...

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May 14, 2007 Safe Patient Handling Law updates

Notably, the national bill, HR 378 Nurse and Patient Safety and Protection Act of 2007, introduced January 10, 2007, by Representative John Conyers, Jr, (D MI-14), continues in the US House of Representatives. HR 378 was referred to the ...

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Source: allnurses.com Nursing for Nurses - Nursing News

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