subject: Safety Devices for Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs [print this page] Safety Devices for Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs
To minimize the risks of exposures to hazardous drugs in the workplaces, various series of hygiene control methods have been designed by occupational healthcare settings. The basic components of this hygiene control methods include substitution or elimination of the hazardous drugs, administrative controls, engineering controls and the adoption of safety devices such as personal protective equipments, biological safety cabinets and closed system drug transfer devices. Safe handling of hazardous drugs can be achieved by proper implementation of these safety equipments in the workplaces. But the fact is that the healthcare workers are frequently neglecting these control methods. Hence, the recent guidelines for the safe handling of noxious agents include strong occupational health principles and professional standards of practice.
Strict adherence to the recommended work practices and the use of engineering controls and safety devices has been shown to effectively reduce the worker's exposures to the lethal substances. However, several factors, such as the increased workload, understaffing, improper training, budgetary constraints, more complex treatment regimens, use in non-oncology specialties, and others can adversely affect how these drugs are handled.
The safe handling guidelines published by the healthcare units allow only trained workers to be involved in the handling of perilous drugs. These drugs should be prepared in a controlled environment where access is only limited to the authorized professionals. Safety equipments such as biological safety cabinets, isolators and closed system drug transfer devices should be properly employed. Personnel should follow all the recommendations for PPE. Needle-less systems should be used whenever possible. If all these control methods will be adopted properly, perilous drugs will not be able to affect mankind.
