Hazardous Drug Acknowledgement of Risk |
Kaweah Health receives, dispenses, compounds, administers, transports and disposes of drugs determined to be hazardous by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings. NIOSH considers a drug to be hazardous if it exhibits one or more of the following characteristics in humans or animals: carcinogenicity, teratogenicity or developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity at low doses or genotoxicity (see Appendix A for examples).
Working with or near hazardous drugs in healthcare settings may lead to acute effects such as skin rashes. It can also lead to chronic effects, including adverse reproductive events such as infertility, miscarriage, or birth defects; and possibly the development of cancer. Individuals may also come into contact with drugs deemed hazardous in the event of patient care activities such as the handling of body fluids or in the event of a spill.
Kaweah Health maintains detailed policies and procedures on the proper storage, handling, transport and disposal of hazardous drugs. Kaweah Health has put in place a variety of administrative, engineering and work practice controls to reduce the risk of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs. Employee and Non-Employee personnel who handle hazardous drugs are trained in safe handling based on their job function which may include but is not limited to the below bullet points:
- Overview of hazardous drugs and their risks
- Review of the standard operating procedures related to the handling of hazardous drugs
- Proper use of personal protective equipment
- Proper use of equipment and devices (e.g., engineering controls)
- Response to known or suspected hazardous drugs exposure
- Spill management
- Proper disposal of hazardous drugs and trace-contaminated materials
I acknowledge that I have read the risks listed above and understand that failure to follow the established policies and procedures may put me at risk of exposure to hazardous substances. I have been provided with training that reflects the policies and procedures on hazardous drugs. I understand that I am welcome to discuss any concerns I have regarding the potential risks with my primary care provider. I will immediately seek out my direct supervisor should a question occur during work activities as well as contact my manager and/or employee health with any health concerns or work accommodations needed.