Published studies have shown that workplace exposures to hazardous drugs can cause both acute and chronic health effects such as skin rashes, adverse reproductive outcomes (including infertility, spontaneous abortions, and congenital malformations),
and possibly leukemia and other cancers.

2004 NIOSH ALERT. Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings.

Hazardous Drugs, like Antineoplastics, save lives but also pose an exposure risk to those transporting, mixing, and delivering them. USP <800> defines processes intended to minimize the exposure to hazardous drugs in health care settings.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have clearly outlined the risks of handling hazardous drugs. The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Oncology Nursing Society, Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, and American Society of Clinical Oncology have all issued statements concerning these risks and the support of safe handling practices.

What are the risks for nursing?

What are the risks for pharmacy?

What are the risks for administrators?

Use these short videos to:

  • Understand the risks for each professional group.
  • Educate a peer who may not recognize the risks.
  • Help other departments understand why the risk is real and important to address.

Get Ready for <800>

A useful approach to help conceptualize USP <800> is to think about the journey of an HD through your organization and the HD interaction points. Chapter <800> contains handling requirements from receipt through disposal. 

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