Every coin has two edges. In one hand, drugs can be used to cure deadly diseases and save millions of lives. In another hand, its exposure can cause harmful effects and can take millions of lives. Hazardous drugs are curatives made from different chemicals. It produces several health hazards when exposed. The employees working in drug manufacturing and handling units can be exposed to these perilous drugs. The urine tests of these workers identify numerous harmful chemicals in their bodies. These chemicals include carcinogens, reproductive toxins, sensitizers, corrosives, highly toxic agents, irritants etc. All these chemicals are highly lethal and can produce short term and long term health effects.
Certain criteria's have been formulated by ASHP and OSHA to determine which drugs are hazardous and has also designed safe Handling programs for them. Hazardous drugs are those drugs which possess characteristics like carcinogenicity, developmental toxicity, teratogenicity, genotoxicity, organ toxicity at low doses, reproductive toxicity etc.
According to safe handling guidelines, each healthcare unit should develop their own list of hazardous drugs based on the criteria's given by ASHP and OSHA and they should follow the safety programs accordingly. When a new drug is brought, it should be first checked whether it is hazardous or not. If frequency of using these drugs increases, the risks of exposures also increase. These drugs should not be used.
A Material safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should be created by all drug manufacture and handling units for safe handling of harmful drugs. All the employers and employees should have MSDS in the workplace. MSDS should be monitored and updated regularly. When a drug is purchased, the MSDS should be brought along with it from the manufacturer or the distributor. The MSDS should contain the suitable handling precautions along with preventive equipments, spill management and control programs. Several MSDSs are also present in internet and can be taken out.
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