Effective Guidelines on Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs

In the year 1986, various safety measures andfocuses more on organizing seminars and workshops
guidelines were published in response to thefor all drug manufacturers and health care workers
numerous surveys and case studies. These guidelinesso that they can have complete knowledge about
included the administration of antineoplastic anddrugs and their handling. It also introduces new tools
cytotoxic drugs in drug manufacture and handlingand machineries for the safety of workers engaged
units. That time no protective equipments were usedin manufacture and handling.
and also there was lack of standardization in the useThese guidelines also include the provisions for
of control methods. Now these guidelines have beencreating a particular drug handling area and disposal of
modified but entire problem is not yet solved. Theredisinfected wastes. While processing and transferring
are still questions whose answers are yet to bethe drugs from one place to another, there are
found out. Hazardous effects of drugs on mankindchances of spillage of these drugs which can be very
have made healthcare sectors to modify theirfatal. Workers should use biological safety cabinets
guidelines.and closed system devices to minimize these harmful
Guidelines that are formulated today take intosituations.
account all the consequences of exposure to perilousGood management practices are mandatory for
drugs in drug manufacturing and administration units.worker's protection. Hence these guidelines should be
Several safety measures and control equipmentsproperly used without any manipulations. All the
have been designed by specialists and technocrats toprofessionals like pharmacists, nurses, physicians,
avoid the occupational exposure to harmful drugs.employees and housekeepers involved in storage and
The guidelines provide the criterias to differentiatetransportation of hazardous drugs must be well
between hazardous and non-hazardous drugs. Also itacquainted with the harmful characters of the drugs.