Health workers urge AIDS protection rules Within the next few weeks, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration may mandate emergency measures to protect health care workers—from clinical chemists to emergency room staff members— against occupational exposure to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), hepatitis B, and other blood-borne infectious diseases. If approved, such rules would be the first mandatory measures by OSHA regulating occupational exposure to biological hazards such as viruses. Last September, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) petitioned OSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect health care workers against blood-borne infections. AFSCME also asked OSHA to begin work on a permanent standard protecting such workers against all infectious diseases, and to add infectious diseases to the Hazard Communication Standard (including warning, training, and counseling not only health care workers but also sanitation workers, corrections officers, day care staff, and others). Three other unions also petitioned OSHA in September, jointly urging regulations covering hepatitis B. OSHA is considering the two petitions together. The agency already has issued nonmandatory guidelines on hepatitis B. Many institutions observe guidelines for AIDS and other infectious diseases r e c o m m e n d e d by the Centers for Disease Control, American Hospital Association (AHA), and other groups. AFSCME stresses that these guidelines are not enforceable and are " n o t fully or rigorously implemented/' However, AHA opposes mandatory OSHA rules. Clinical chemists also generally prefer selfregulation. Indeed, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards hopes to complete rules on AIDS exposure by the end of the year. Several options are still under study by OSHA head John A. Pendergrass. An internal OSHA memo,
however, recommends denying an ETS (which are rarely issued and difficult to defend in court) and instead starting work on a permanent standard. This could take years— while AIDS cases multiply—retorts AFSCME. D
Genentech loses U.K. biotech lawsuit Genentech was the loser in London's High Court last week. Justice John Whitford ruled invalid in its present form the company's British patent relating to production of human tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) by genetic engineering techniques. For the U.K.'s Wellcome Foundation, which brought the case against Genentech (C&EN, June 15, page 5), the outcome of the four-week hearing was heartening, since it leaves the way clear for the foundation to pursue its own genetic engineering approach to making the material. Wellcome Biotechnology, a
subsidiary, is working with Genetics Institute of Boston on the project. TPA is a naturally occurring protein that has thrombolytic activity. Its production by host cells containing the gene encoded for TPA could allow adequate supplies to be available for treating coronary heart disease victims. In a short statement following the ruling, Wellcome noted that "the judgment is vindication of Wellcome's belief that the Genentech patent failed to fulfill the essential criteria of novelty and inventiveness." It added, however, that it "does not believe that this decision has general implications for patents in the recombinant DNA field." As C&EN went to press, the official transcript of the judgment was not available, so neither Genentech nor Wellcome was in a position to make detailed comments about it. However, Genentech indicates that the court ruled the 61-page British patent (No. 2,119,804B), with its 20 claims, was too broad in scope, even
Mobil Chemical gets safety award from OSHA Mobil Chemical has become the first major company to bring every one of its plants into the "Star" voluntary protection program on employee health and safety, sponsored by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Marking that occasion, Secretary of Labor William E. Brock (center) presents the award to Mobil Chemical president Robert G. Weeks as OSHA chief John A. Pendergrass (left) looks on. To get the honor, all 24 of Mobil Chemical's plants had to meet the Star standards. These include a three-year average injury incidence and lost workday rate below the national average for the industry, and in-place extensive hazard management systems.
July 13, 1987 C&EN 5
