Senator

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would require health care facilities to establish guidelines for safe patient handling received final legislative approval today by the full Assembly, by a vote of 77-3.

“The goal of this bill is to cut down on the risk of injury to patients and care givers,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “The effectiveness of the program lies in its development, implementation and monitoring. Health care facilities must develop realistic patient handling plans and the Departments of Health and Senior Services and Human Services must maintain an active role in monitoring the programs. This must be a joint effort.”

“It is way past time for New Jersey to adopt safe handling legislation that helps to protect patients and those who care for them,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who is a member of the Senate Health panel. “There is always a risk of injury when dealing with transporting patients, but this bill would set up safety guidelines to help reduce the number and the severity of the injuries for all parties involved.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would create the “Safe Patient Handling Act,” and require health care facilities to establish guidelines for safe patient handling was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

“When enacted, this bill will create a win-win situation for patients and health care workers by working to cut down on the risk of injury,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Services Committee. “In order for the program to be effective, it is imperative that safe patient handling plans be developed, implemented and closely monitored to make sure that they are working properly.”

“This legislation would establish necessary guidelines to help protect both patients and the workers who care for them,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “The risk of injury is always there when dealing with transporting patients but the safety guidelines set up in this bill would work to reduce the number and severity of these injuries, for all parties involved.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would prohibit animal testing when a federally-recommended alternative exists was approved today by the Senate, by a vote of 33-0.

“Wherever possible, we have a moral responsibility to seek more humane alternatives to animal testing,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “With advances in technology, many of the older testing methods are being replaced with computer-generated models and other less cruel alternatives. Some of these alternatives may be more expensive than traditional animal testing, but the decision to use alternatives to animal testing should be one of conscience, not costliness.”