In recent years, healthcare professionals have become increasingly aware of health risks in the workplace, partly because of the introduction of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
Health and safety and environmental issues
In recent years,
healthcare professionals have become increasingly aware of health risks in the
workplace, partly because of the introduction of the Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health Regulations. In the case of technical services, particular
risks identified relate to occupational exposure of hazardous materials,
including solvents and powders used in classical manufacturing processes and
cytotoxics and sensitising antibiotics handled by aseptic units. New
pharmaceutical developments such as targeted toxins, gene therapy and viral
vectors for drug delivery are entering clinical use. These new agents will
present a particular challenge in aseptic preparation where measures to reduce
or eliminate the risk of occupational exposure and cross-contamination of
products must be adopted and validated. There is an urgent need to evaluate new
‘closed-system’ technologies for the safe hand-ling of toxic agents. Some of
these devices, for example the Tevadaptor and PhaSeal systems, are already in
limited use, but given the additional cost of these technologies it is
essential that evidence of their effectiveness in reducing occupational
exposure is obtained. The use of environmental monitoring services is also
recommended for cytotoxic compounding units.
Environmental issues
are of increasing significance. Controls to prevent the discharge into the
environment of genetic material, biologicals and radio-active substances are
likely to become more stringent at a time when the medicinal use of such agents
continues to increase. Collaborative research to develop safe handling and
containment systems is essential, together with other measures to reduce the
amounts of medical and plastic waste produced by the technical services
activities.
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