SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1106

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 15, 2018

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1106.

      This bill directs the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with representatives of health care facilities, local health agencies, and food service establishments, to develop a plan to phase out the use of latex gloves in licensed health care facilities and food service establishments.

      The bill also directs the commissioner to submit the plan to the Governor and the Legislature within 180 days of the date of enactment of the bill, and propose the plan, as a Department of Health regulation, in the New Jersey Register after submitting the plan to the Governor and Legislature.

      Latex allergies are increasingly becoming a problem for health care workers, patients, food service workers, and consumers of food products handled with latex gloves; exposure to latex gloves is recognized as a serious occupational health risk by the Food and Drug Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommend that workers be provided with non-latex gloves in order to reduce the risk of causing latex sensitization and allergies.