NIOSH updates list of drugs that pose a risk to healthcare workers
Healthcare workers who prepare or give hazardous drugs to patients, such as those used for cancer therapy, as well as support staff may face individual health risks when exposed to these drugs. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates 8 million U.S. healthcare workers are potentially exposed to hazardous drugs in the workplace.
The new document, NIOSH List of Antineoplastic and other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings, 2014, is the latest version of the hazardous drug list first published by NIOSH in 2004 as an appendix to the document, NIOSH Alert: Preventing Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings. Hazardous drugs on the list include those used for cancer chemotherapy, antiviral drugs, hormones, some bioengineered drugs, and other miscellaneous drugs.