Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare

Traditional medications and bioengineered drugs can be hazardous to those who work with them. Healthcare workers who prepare or administer hazardous drugs, or who work in areas where these drugs are used or handled, may be exposed to these agents. Studies have associated workplace exposures to hazardous drugs with health effects such as skin rashes and adverse reproductive outcomes, and possibly leukemia and other cancers.

Engineering and administrative controls, and proper protective equipment, can protect workers from exposures to hazardous drugs.

Publications

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-165 (2004)
Provides health care workers and employers with measures for minimizing exposure to hazardous drugs.

Events

Conference: Alert on Reducing Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare: Converting Theory to Practice
October 3-5, 2004