Various studies have presented reports on exposure of healthcare workers to hazardous drugs. The drug preparation areas are found to be contaminated with these drugs and there exists legion of cases of workers with detectable quantities of these agents in their urine. It is the responsibility of workers together with employers of different healthcare settings to participate actively in controlling the extent of their exposure to these harmful substances.
Workers carry out different drug related processes and thus are exposed to dusts and aerosols which generates out during preparation and administration of the drug. These may present direct risks of exposure through skin contacts and through contaminated eatables and food stuffs.
According to safe handling guidelines published by the healthcare organizations, workers should follow various precautionary measures and activities to carry out safe handling of hazardous drugs. Only well-trained and experienced workers should form the part of the healthcare settings. Employers should ensure the implementation of safety equipments such as biological cabinets and closed system drug transfer devices, and give importance to their proper usage by the workers.
With the assistance of workers, several written programs on safe handling of these toxic substances have been presented by healthcare settings. These programs discuss various issues on drug exposure and practice of engineering controls, hygiene controls, safety equipments, etc. to minimize the worker’s exposure to hazardous drugs.
Strict adherence to the safety guidelines and co-operation of workers with employers will definitely improve the prevailing conditions of drug exposure in healthcare facilities. The use of personal protective equipments and good work practices have shown to dramatically change the scenario of harmful effects of occupational exposure to these drugs.