COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR HANDLING HAZARDOUS DRUGS

Development and implementation of a comprehensive program for safe han dling of hazardous drugs is described. A comprehensive, multidisciplin ary program for handling hazardous drugs was developed at a 1000-bed t ertiary care, university teaching institution. Hazardous drugs were id entified by a hazardous-drug working group consisting of occupational health professionals, pharmacists, and an industrial hygienist. The Oc cupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1986 handling guide lines were used as a template, with input solicited from pharmacy staf f and from other institutions. A new system for receiving, storing, an d transporting hazardous drugs-which also included new labeling for su ch drugs-was implemented. The new guidelines were discussed with the s taff, with emphasis placed on absolute compliance and incorporation of the guidelines into standard operating procedures and daily pharmacy practices. All pharmacy employees underwent retraining to ensure compl ete understanding. A voluntary medical surveillance program for pharma cy employees was developed concomitantly to monitor exposure to genoto xic hazardous drugs. Implementation of a comprehensive program for saf e handling of hazardous drugs increased employee understanding of the need for such a program and improved the hospital's compliance with re cent OSHA regulations.