Safety

Manufacturers warn of respirator shortages to protect healthcare workers

OSHA Healthcare Connection, June 27, 2006

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Manufacturers warn of respirator shortages to protect healthcare workers

Many healthcare workers will battle an avian flu pandemic without protection, says a June 22 letter to President Bush from six respirator manufacturers.

"Unfettered liability costs will dramatically affect our nation's ability to respond to an avian flu pandemic," wrote the respirator company executives." With 90%â?"94% of profits going to maintain litigation efforts, the companies "are compelled to withhold further investment in production capacity, exit the marketplace, or manufacture abroad for foreign buyers where no litigation crisis exists."

The letter urged the President to support legislation that would preempt lawsuits that claim defective design or insufficient warning in a government-approved respirator.



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