| Some series of industrial hygiene control methods | | | | These drugs should be prepared in a controlled |
| have been the basic approach of occupational | | | | environment where access is limited to authorized |
| healthcare settings, to minimize exposure of | | | | personnel. Safety equipments such as biological |
| hazardous drugs to any workplace. The | | | | safety cabinets (BSCs), isolators and closed |
| components of this hierarchy method include | | | | system drug transfer devices should be |
| elimination or substitution of the hazard, | | | | employed. Personnel should follow all |
| engineering controls, administrative controls, and | | | | recommendations for PPE. Needleless systems |
| personal protective equipment (PPE). This | | | | should be used whenever possible. |
| approach has achieved success across many | | | | It is recommended that these drugs should be |
| industrial settings but are found to be frequently | | | | placed in zippered plastic bags inside rigid, sealable |
| neglected by the workers in several healthcare | | | | containers while shipping. These containers should |
| settings. Therefore, recent guidelines for the safe | | | | be opened carefully and closely inspected on |
| handling of toxic drugs are based on strong | | | | arrival. Personnel unpacking drugs should wear |
| occupational health principles and professional | | | | gloves and masks to protect themselves from |
| standards of practice. | | | | dermal and inhalation exposures. Drug wastes |
| Adherence to recommended work practices and | | | | should be segregated and disposed off according |
| the use of engineering controls and PPE has been | | | | to hospital and government policies. |
| shown to substantially reduce worker exposure to | | | | Medical surveillance program should be established |
| hazardous substances. However, several factors, | | | | which can monitor health of workers potentially |
| such as increased workload, understaffing, | | | | exposed to hazardous drugs. It basically involves |
| improper training, budgetary constraints, more | | | | collecting and interpreting health related data to |
| complex treatment regimens, use in non-oncology | | | | detect changes in the health status of these |
| specialties, and others can adversely affect how | | | | workers. The use of safe handling practices for |
| these drugs are handled. | | | | these drugs in receipt, storage, preparation, |
| The safe handling guidelines published by | | | | administration, transportation and disposal, can |
| healthcare organizations allow only trained workers | | | | dramatically reduce the potential exposure of |
| to be involved in the handling of hazardous drugs. | | | | health care workers to these drugs. |