6. A covered health care facility shall not take any retaliatory action against any health care worker because that worker refuses to perform a patient handling task due to a reasonable concern about worker or patient safety, or the lack of appropriate and available patient handling equipment or aids. In the event the health care worker refuses to perform a patient handling task pursuant to this section, the worker shall promptly notify his supervisor of the refusal and the reason therefor.

As used in this section, “retaliatory action” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1986, c.105 (C. 34:19-2).

L.2007, c.225, s.6.