The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and The Joint Commission sent a letter to hospitals advocating safe handling of drugs, according to an OSHA news release.
The organizations said drugs for chemotherapy, antiviral treatments, hormone regimens and other applications may produce serious adverse health effects, even from low-level exposure. They encourage employers to ask management staff to take a leadership role in worker safety and health; offer opportunities for meaningful employee participation in efforts to identify and remediate hazards; develop and offer training; and evaluate the hospital's injury and illness program for continuous improvement.
Read the OSHA release on the need for safe handling of drugs.
Read more coverage on patient safety:
- Patient Death Puts University of Chicago Medical Center's Medicare Funding at Risk
- U.K.'s Manchester Hospital Launches "YMCA" Parody Hand Hygiene Video
- "Active Surveillance," Barrier Precautions Not as Effective in Reducing MRSA, VRE
The organizations said drugs for chemotherapy, antiviral treatments, hormone regimens and other applications may produce serious adverse health effects, even from low-level exposure. They encourage employers to ask management staff to take a leadership role in worker safety and health; offer opportunities for meaningful employee participation in efforts to identify and remediate hazards; develop and offer training; and evaluate the hospital's injury and illness program for continuous improvement.
Read the OSHA release on the need for safe handling of drugs.
Read more coverage on patient safety:
- Patient Death Puts University of Chicago Medical Center's Medicare Funding at Risk
- U.K.'s Manchester Hospital Launches "YMCA" Parody Hand Hygiene Video
- "Active Surveillance," Barrier Precautions Not as Effective in Reducing MRSA, VRE