Exposures to Hazardous drugs and the safety equipments
Accidental leaks and spills can occur during any of the procedures of drug manufacture and administration
. These spills can badly affect the healthcare workers and the staffs engaged in all sorts of drug activities. Also it can contaminate the surroundings that can put the patients and their family members in the risks of exposures to harmful agents. There are numerous evidences that have shown personnel and surface contamination with hazardous drugs. This has become the major area of concern for all the healthcare units. Therefore, these units have formulated various safety guidelines that can reduce the risks of exposures to hazardous drugs.
But the fact is that the healthcare workers are not following these guidelines properly. Still there are numerous cases of occupational exposures. Safety measures formulated by healthcare units include various safety equipments. These equipments must be used by all staffs engaged in drug activities. The safety equipments include biological safety cabinets, personal protective equipments and closed system drug transfer devices. All these equipments are very efficient and reliable. Personal protective equipments include special masks, gowns, gloves and biological respirators. All these equipments protect the workers from hazardous aerosols, vapors, dust particles etc.
Closed system drug transfer devices are other safety devices that are airtight and leak-proof. These devices are very efficient and reliable. It does not allow the inner contaminations to escape outside and outer contaminations to enter inside the system. Strict adherence to these safety measures can minimize the adverse affects of the exposures to hazardous drugs.
Exposures to Hazardous drugs and the safety equipments