Legislature approves liability waiver for local manufacturers of PPE

On Sunday, March 29, the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), part of the UAA Business Enterprise Institute (BEI), secured an amendment to SB241 in the Alaska Legislature that provides a liability waiver to local manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE), which has been in short supply for health care workers combatting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As identified by Alaska MEP on Friday, March 27, liability was a significant impediment to healthcare providers using quality PPE being manufactured locally. The new waiver now allows providers to use locally-produced PPE without being held liable in the event that a health care worker becomes ill.

“Thank you to those of you who helped us in this endeavor,” said Alyssa Rodrigues, Alaska MEP director. “This legislation will enable local manufacturers to produce desperately needed PPE and allow health care providers to use locally produced PPE to help save the lives of Alaskans.” 

UAA has also contributed to the municipality and state's needs through donations of PPE to help health care workers. Together, UAA’s College of Health and College of Arts and Sciences have donated 114 cases of PPE to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), consisting of rubber gloves, face masks, isolation gowns, face shields, head caps, goggles and shoe covers.

Typically used by students engaged in course lab work, the donated PPE supplies are surplus at the moment as the university is using alternative methods to deliver courses in compliance with social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.