Assess the Hazards in the Workplace
Evaluate the workplace to identify and assess hazards before anyone begins work with hazardous drugs.
- total working environment
- equipment (i.e., ventilated cabinets, closed-system drug transfer devices, glovebags, needleless systems, and PPE)
- physical layout of work areas
- types of drugs being handled
- volume, frequency, and form of drugs handled (tablets, coated versus uncoated, powder versus liquid)
- equipment maintenance
- decontamination and cleaning
- waste handling
- potential exposures during work, including hazardous drugs, bloodborne pathogens, and chemicals used to deactivate hazardous drugs or clean drug-contaminated surfaces
- routine operations
- spill response
- waste segregation, containment, and disposal
Make sure to regularly review the current inventory of hazardous drugs, equipment, and practices, seeking input from affected workers. Have the safety and health staff or an internal committee perform this review.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-5. When should an assessment of hazardous drugs be conducted?
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