Hazardous material exposure can lead to adverse effects on anyone, whether an unknowing patient or seasoned healthcare professional. Around 75,000 healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to hazardous drugs, from nursing staff to laboratory research workers, causing adverse health effects.
The importance of workplace safety and proper hazardous drug handling is essential for anyone looking to complete training in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance and Quality Control. Students who pursue careers as laboratory technicians, validation chemists, and more can find themselves in direct need of hazardous material handling training, so continue reading to learn 4 basic tips for these situations.
1. Understand the Importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE is an essential part of workplace safety, ensuring each employee has the right gear to safely perform their duties. Students looking to pursue careers in GMP following a pharmaceutical certification program will benefit from the AAPS course on Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
PPE can include:
- scrubs
- footwear
- shoe covers
- hair covers
- medical masks
- respirators
- specialized gowns and gloves
- eye protection
- and more
These items can help save employees at risk from adverse reactions to hazardous materials, such as skin rashes, adverse reproductive outcomes, and more.
2. Don’t Neglect Proper Hand Hygiene after Pharma Courses
Hand hygiene can’t be overlooked, even when using gloves and additional PPE. Donning and doffing PPE can still leave exposed skin at risk of contact with hazardous drugs, whether the employee knows it or not. An essential component of the WHMIS course at AAPS covers worker education, a necessary component of proper safety guideline adherence.
Following pharma courses, be sure to stay diligent with hand hygiene, using the necessary washing agents depending on the drugs you may be in contact with. These can include alcohol-based hand rubs as well as disinfecting soaps.
Safety procedures are a must when it comes to handling hazardous materials, including proper hand hygiene
3. Stay Updated on Workplace Safety Stations
It is important for every employee in a facility working with hazardous drugs to know where the safety stations are and how to use them. With the knowledge of the location of these stations and how to operate them, many adverse side effects may be avoided with a swift reaction to contamination.
Common safety stations include eyewash stations and emergency showers. Graduates of the Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance and Quality Control Post-Graduate Diploma Program at AAPS may work in a number of environments that could pose a potential risk for exposure to hazardous materials, including:
- Pharmaceutical
- Food
- Cosmetics
- Cannabis companies
- Testing laboratories
It’s important to know where safety stations are located throughout the workplace so that they can be used swiftly in case of emergency
4. Identify Necessary Safety Supplies and Devices
Through the program at AAPS, students have the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art laboratory that simulates working in a GMP environment. Getting comfortable with the laboratory conditions and events that may happen under future employment helps students graduate with the confidence they need for success.
From wipes and towels to preparation pads, sterile drapes, syringes, needles, filters, and more, being able to identify and understand the utilization of each safety supply and device prepares graduates for work in the real world.
Safety supplies help keep individuals safe who are working with the drugs, as well as other workplace employees who may come in contact with exposures
Interested in pursuing an education in pharmaceutical quality assurance?
Contact AAPS for more information!