Posted by Jonathan Johnson on 5/27/2012 to
The fact that Washington is the only state to protect it's health workers in this manner is a startling indication of the
need for health care professionals - and their employers - to take measures to safeguard themselves from not only these
medications, but all substances that could be potentially harmful.
Is your employer providing the proper personal protective equipment? Are your employees offered PPE kits that are
convenient, cost-effective and also an effective safeguard?
Chemotherapeutic drugs are especially dangerous because the same properties that allow these medications to kill cancerous cells also
have the potential to damage healthy human cells. The preparation, administration and disposal of these drugs offer a stark
danger to all health workers that may come in contact with these medications.
While there may seem to be no explicit danger to health workers employed in environments that are not focused on cancer
control, chemotherapy drugs are increasingly being utilized in less-conventional means. Patients with arthritis and
muscular sclerosis are also sometimes treated with these medications, meaning the drugs now exist in a wider variety of
facilities and even private physician offices.
And the problem is not limited to human health-facilities or private homes. Veterinarians are increasingly using
chemotherapy drugs to treat sick animals.
The Washington state workplace safety rule is designed to protect pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, physicians and
physician assistants, nurses and patient care assistants, home health care workers, veterinarians and vet techs,
housekeeping, laundry, and waste disposal staff in health care facilities, and employees in health care facilities who
ship, or receive hazardous drugs from the manufacturer or distributor.
At PPEKits.com, we offer personal protection equipment specifically designed for the unique needs of health care workers. Browse our online storefront http://www.ppekits.com