| With the increased applications of Hazardous | | | | personal protective equipment by the workers |
| Drugs in the treatment of diseases, healthcare | | | | dealing with hazardous substances. Personal |
| organizations are worried about the harmful | | | | protective equipment includes disposable gowns, |
| effects of these drugs on the lives of people | | | | powder-free gloves, face and eye protection |
| dealing with them. They have been in search of | | | | against splashing of drugs and respirators when |
| an alternative which can substitute these drugs | | | | there is a risk of inhaling drug aerosols especially |
| But they are still in the process of finding and for | | | | during spill clean up. The drugs should be prepared |
| the time being, they have provided certain safety | | | | in biological safety cabinets to prevent |
| measures and designed several protective | | | | contamination of sterile products with the |
| equipments, in order to minimize the exposure to | | | | surrounding air and lives nearby. Specially designed |
| hazardous drugs in workplaces. | | | | closed system drug transfer devices which are |
| Hazardous drugs contain harmful agents, which | | | | both air tight and leak proof should be employed. |
| may be helpful to patients suffering from | | | | These devices restrict both the inward and |
| diseases. But the people involved in preparation, | | | | outward flow of contaminants into the system. |
| administration and disposal of such medications | | | | Mandatory training sessions for working staffs |
| are prone to the deadly effects of these drugs. | | | | based on their hazardous drug handling tasks are |
| Majority of these drugs can cause immediate and | | | | also included. |
| long term effects such as reproductive disorders, | | | | Adherence to these safety guidelines have |
| cell degeneration, diseases like leukemia and | | | | reduced the probability of occupational exposure |
| cancer. A little exposure to these toxicants, | | | | but have not been effective in minimizing the use |
| vapors and aerosols contained in these | | | | of harmful chemical agents in the preparation. Also |
| medications can result in short term disorders | | | | the safety rules are implemented only in large |
| such as skin rashes, eye infection, hair damage, | | | | pharmaceutical companies and health care centers. |
| respiratory problems and so on. | | | | Many small healthcare centers are even aware of |
| The safety guidelines put forward the use of | | | | these safety rules. |