Hospital Pharmacy: The Hazards Of Handling Dangerous Drugs
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios

Defined Tag: Hospital Pharmacy.

Many are unaware of the fact that the hospital pharmacy can also be a source of hazard to hospital employees. This is the place where all kinds of drugs, in solid or liquid form are stored, packed and handled by the pharmacist. There are hazardous drugs and chemicals present in the hospital pharmacy that repeated exposure of an employee can cause life-long side effects.

Hazardous drugs are the drugs or chemicals that are corrosive or highly toxic, which usually have a gradual effect on the health of the pharmacist. On the other hand, drugs that are in sold form such as pills or tablets and consumer products are excluded and not classified as hazardous drugs. All employees that will have direct contact with a hazardous drug shall undergo a safety and health training.

A safety and health training will include the proper procedure for handling of hazardous drugs as well as proper work practices in areas assigned for preparation of the hazardous drugs. Part of the training includes restrictions imposed upon a number of activities within the area where hazardous drugs are present. Activities such as smoking, eating, drinking and even the application of cosmetics are strictly prohibited inside a hospital pharmacy.

Covered containers for needle and waste disposal are required to avoid contamination, while zipped plastic pouches are used for the proper disposal of protective equipment. Wearing personal protective equipment, such as gloves and gowns, in handling hazardous chemicals or drugs must be observed for protection and to avoid contamination. A pharmacist can either choose a glove of required thickness or use double gloving instead. For gloves, the one that provides the best protection was found to be made of latex. Likewise, decontamination kits for the skin and eye must be within reach in case of contact with a spill or spray.

The hospital pharmacy, indeed, will be a hazardous area if not for work standards and controls. Manufacturers were directed to specify hazardous drugs that are deemed present in the hospital pharmacy. The institute responsible for monitoring this issues an annual list of hazardous drugs that hospital management provides to the hospital pharmacy.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, Amazon, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.