630 Healthcare: Pharmacy Safety

Hazardous Drug Safety and Health Plan

When a Hazardous Drug Safety and Health Plan is developed, it should be readily available and accessible to all employees, including temporary employees, contractors, and trainees.

OSHA says the plan should include each of the following elements and indicate specific measures that the employer is taking to ensure employee protection:

• Standard operating procedures relevant to safety and health considerations to be followed when health care workers are exposed to hazardous drugs.
• Criteria the employer uses to determine and implement control measures to reduce employee exposure to hazardous drugs, including engineering controls, the use of personal protective equipment, and hygiene practices.
• A requirement that ventilation systems and other protective equipment function properly, and specific measures to ensure proper and adequate performance of such equipment.
• The plan should have a provision for information and training and medical examinations of potentially exposed personnel.
• The circumstances under which the use of specific hazardous drugs require prior approval from the employer before implementation.
• Employers should designate a responsible person to implement the Hazardous Drug Safety and Health Plan. This includes assigning a Hazardous Drug Officer (who is an industrial hygienist, nurse, or pharmacist health and safety representative) and, if appropriate, establishment of a Hazardous Drug Committee or a joint Hazardous Drug Committee/Chemical Committee.

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