Controlling occupational exposure to hazardous drugs

Guidelines on the safe management of hazardous drugs (HDs) in the workplace are presented. OSHA published guidelines for the safe management of cytotoxic (antineoplastic) drugs in the workplace in 1986. Those guidelines have been revised in this document to reflect the latest scientific knowledge and expanded to include other potentially hazardous drugs. The guidelines (1) provide criteria for classifying drugs as hazardous, (2) summarize the evidence supporting the management of HDs as an occupational hazard, (3) discuss the equipment and worker education recommended, as well as the legal requirements of standards for the protection of workers exposed and potentially exposed to HDs, (4) update the important aspects of medical surveillance, and (5) list some common HDs currently in use. Revised and expanded work-practice guidelines intended to limit the exposure of workers to HDs are described.