ACN 018/20 - FEB 2020 HAZARDOUS DRUGS - HANDLING IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                CANCEL DATE  03 FEB 2021

R 041244 FEB 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06010//
ACN 018/20
SUBJ:  HAZARDOUS DRUGS - HANDLING IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS
A. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter-800
1. REF (A), published 1 FEB 2016 with an implementation date of
December 2019, provides quality standards for the safe handling of hazardous
drugs (HD) in the healthcare settings. This chapter also promotes patient
safety, worker safety and environmental protection while handling HD in the
workplace.
2. Handling HD includes, but is not limited to: receipt, storage, compounding,
dispensing, and administering.
3. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers
a drug to be hazardous if the drug’s characteristics exhibits carcinogenicity,
teratogenicity or developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity
at low doses, Geno toxicity, or new drugs that mimic the structure and toxicity
profile of existing hazardous drugs in humans and animals.
4. Any unit handling HD must incorporate the standards set forth by REF (A) into
their respective occupational safety plan and local standard operating procedure
(SOP), and shall include at a minimum:
    a. Maintain a list of all HD onsite, reviewed at least every 12 months, and based
on the NIOSH.
    b. Maintain a list of facility and engineering controls onsite to include, at a
minimum, signage, and restricted access to designated areas.
    c. Provide training to all personnel who handle HD, initially, and at least every
12 months.
    d. Maintain a local SOP with safe work practices and handling of HD, updated every
12 months.
    e. Maintain sufficient stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the unit level
for staff to utilize when handling HD.
    f. Utilize PPE as prescribed in REF (A) based on situation.
5. For more information on developing the safe handling of HD in healthcare settings: 
https://www.usp.org/compounding/general-chapter-hazardous-drugs-handling-healthcare.
6. POC:
    a. COMDT (CG-1121), CAPT Paul T. Michaud, Pharmacy Force Manager, at (202) 475-5171
or Paul.T.Michaud@uscg.mil.
    b. HSWL-SC, CAPT Daniel L. Hasenfang, Pharmacy Consultant, at (757) 628-4331 or
Daniel.L.Hasenfang@uscg.mil.
7. Released by RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director of Health, Safety and Work-Life.
8. Internet release is authorized.