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Today, California’s Department Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) will convene its meeting of an Advisory Panel to explore strengthening adult film worker safety regulations in California.
During its Standards Board meeting in March 2010 in Costa Mesa, the Board voted unanimously to convene the Advisory Panel in order to take public comment from health advocates, industry officials and the general public on whether—and how—to amend state health statutes to better protect adult film workers.
That March action came in response to a petition filed in December by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) seeking an amendment to broaden the Cal/OSHA’s “bloodborne pathogens” workplace safety regulations to better encompass adult film industry worksites.
“regulations to prevent the spread of bloodborne diseases in hospitals should extend to adult film sets. The current regulations aren’t clear enough.”
Several former adult entertainment actresses as well as several public health advocates will testify at Cal/OSHA Advisory Panel meeting in support of changing state health regulations.
WHAT: MEDIA AVAILABILITY in Conjunction with Cal/OSHA ADVISORY PANEL Meeting on Adult Film Worker Safety Panel to consider changes to state regs to better protect adult film workers
WHEN: TUESDAY, June 7th 2011—-10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
WHERE: Caltrans Building, 100 S. Main Street, Room #1040, Los Angeles, CA 90012
WHO: Derrick Burts, ‘patient zeta;’ former adult film performer found to be HIV-positive in October 2010; Shelley Lubben, former adult entertainment actress and founder of Pink Cross Foundation and other former adult entertainment actresses and members of Pink Cross Foundation;
Brian Chase, Assistant General Counsel, AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Senior Director, Public Health Division, AIDS Healthcare Foundation;
Shirley El Dorado-Del Aguila, Director, Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (SoCal COSH; Adam Carl Cohen, Reproductive Health Interest Group and Adult Film Industry Subcommittee, UCLA School of Public Health
MEDIA NOTE: Cal/OSHA does NOT permit filming or recording during the advisory panel meeting; however, individuals named above will be available to speak with news media outside the meeting chambers.
In March 2010, Cal/OSHA officials evaluated and acted on AHF’s petition during the Costa Mesa Standards Board meeting. In its proposed decision (www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/petition513.html), Cal OSHA officials wrote:
“In light of the evaluations, it is apparent to the Board that serious consideration should be given to the possible amendment of Section 5193 in order to give greater protection to employees in the adult film industry.” (Emphasis added)
Background on AHF’s Petition to Cal/OSHA:
AHF filed its petition at the final 2009 meeting of the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) in mid-December in Sacramento. The petition sought an amendment to California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5193 “Bloodborne Pathogens” and asked Cal/OSHA to clarify protections for workers in the adult film industry and to explicitly include a condom requirement. As reported by the Associated Press at the time, (“AIDS group wants rule requiring condoms in porn” AP, 12/16/09) AHF said, “regulations to prevent the spread of bloodborne diseases in hospitals should extend to adult film sets. The current regulations aren’t clear enough.”
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the largest global AIDS organization. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 160,000 individuals in 26 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. www.aidshealth.org
The Pink Cross Foundation is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to offering adult industry workers emotional, financial and transitional support for those who want out of the adult industry. www.thepinkcross.org and www.shelleylubben.com