26:2H-14.12 Safe patient handling committee.

5. a. Within 12 months of the effective date of this act:

(1) each covered health care facility shall establish a safe patient handling committee, which shall be responsible for all aspects of the development, implementation and periodic evaluation and revision of the facility's safe patient handling program, including the evaluation and selection of patient handling equipment and aids and other appropriate engineering controls;

(2) in the case of a health care system that owns or operates more than one covered health care facility or Department of Human Services facilities, the safe patient handling committee may be operated at the system or department level, provided that committee membership includes at least one health care worker from each facility, and a safe patient handling program is developed for each facility, taking into account the characteristics of the patients at the facility.

b. At least 50% of the members of the committee shall be health care workers who are representative of the different disciplines of health care workers employed at the facility or facilities, in the case of a health care system. In a facility or health care system where health care workers are represented by one or more collective bargaining agents, the management of the facility or system shall consult with the collective bargaining agents regarding the selection of the health care worker committee members.

The remaining members of the committee shall have experience, expertise, or responsibility relevant to the operation of a safe patient handling program.

c. The committee shall meet as needed, but no less than quarterly.

L.2007, c.225, s.5.