USP General Chapter <800> HAZARDOUS DRUGS

Later this year, (December 1, 2019,) the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter <800> will officially require that pharmacies and other health care providers (e.g. aged care facilities) handling hazardous drugs must incorporate USP <800>  into their occupational safety plan, subject to their state laws. Although specific to the USA, the guidance provided is useful irrespective of the setting. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) define hazardous drugs as those characterized by teratogenicity or developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity at low doses, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, in humans or animals. New drugs with  structure and toxicity that are similar to existing hazardous drugs are also included. USP General Chapter <800> outlines requirements including responsibilities of personnel handling hazardous drugs; as well facility and engineering controls; procedures for deactivating, decontaminating and cleaning; spill control; and documentation. These standards apply to all healthcare personnel who receive, prepare, administer, transport or otherwise come in contact with hazardous drugs and all the environments in which they are handled. USP <800> can be downloaded without charge, here