UNIVEC Attends White House Signing of Needlestick Legislation
Bipartisan Law Provides Protection for Patients and Health Care Workers
FARMINGDALE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2000--Joel Schoenfeld, Chairman of the Farmingdale-based UNIVEC, Inc. (OTC BB:UNVC - news), the internationally recognized maker of auto-disable syringes, today praised Congress and the White House for passage of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act.
Mr. Schoenfeld was present at the White House today as President Clinton signed the bipartisan legislation, which provides for needlestick protections for patients and health care workers under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
"UNIVEC has, for years, been at the forefront of safe needle legislation and we feel this is an important first step in protecting patients and health care workers who are at serious risk of infection and disease," said Schoenfeld.
The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act amends the existing Bloodborne Pathogen Standard administered by OSHA to require the use of safer devices to protect from sharp injuries. It also requires that employers solicit the input of non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care, who are potentially exposed to sharps injuries in identification, evaluation and selection of effective engineering and work-practice controls.
The UNIVEC technology is for safety syringes that can effectively deliver medication in a safer manner than with traditional syringes. The UNIVEC sliding sheath syringe protects the health care worker while the auto-disable syringe protects the patient; together they provide a maximum amount of safety.
"We were so glad to be part of the signing of this legislation which will save the lives of many health care workers who are at risk of infection and disease through needlesticks," said Schoenfeld. "There are approximately 800,000 needlestick injuries in the United States per year. It's high time Congress moved to prevent those injuries to protect health care workers."
UNIVEC has been fighting both nationally and internationally to protect people from diseases brought on by unsafe needle practices. "The legislation goes a long way toward helping to win that fight," said Schoenfeld.
UNIVEC is a world leader in auto-disable syringes and is leading the global movement for a conversion to auto-disable syringes from traditional multi-use syringes. Traditional multi-use disposable syringes are acknowledged by the World Health Organization to be responsible for the spread of disease to millions of people each year.
Statements herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking and subject to risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including those set forth in the company's Securities and Exchange filings under "Risk Factors," including risks relating to dependence on third parties; future capital needs; and risks relating to the commercialization, if any, of the company's proposed products (such as marketing, safety, regulatory, patent product liability, supply, competition and other risks.)
Univec, 22 Dubon Court, Farmingdale, NY 11735. Tel: 631-777-2000; Fax: 631-777-2786.