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ADA: ANOTHER DAMNED AGGRAVATION?

NCJ Number
141858
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1993) Pages: 42,50-52
Author(s)
A G Sharp
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Police agencies are making responsible attempts to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the OSHA guidelines regarding bloodborne pathogens.
Abstract
In a survey of police agencies conducted in late 1992, revealed that 79 percent reported that the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) has had some influence on their operations already, although this influence has been minimal. The other 21 percent said that it has not, but only 8 percent of the respondents did not anticipate any future effects from ADA. This last statistic is surprising, because 55-60 percent of all police agencies employ 10 or fewer police officers and should not be affected any time soon, if at all. Only agencies with 25 or more employees were covered starting July 16, 1992, and those with 15 or more will not be covered until July 26, 1994. Most departments that have already felt ADA's impact have made changes to comply with its mandates, usually in the area of facilities, information obtained from job applicants, hiring guidelines, and job descriptions. Police administrators are also struggling to deal with OSHA's new guidelines regarding blood pathogen contamination. Although these guidelines should protect police personnel against hepatitis, HIV, and other infections, the training required may be time- consuming and complicated. Nevertheless, police administrators are taking seriously their responsibility to adhere to ADA and OSHA requirements.