Hazardous Drugs, Chemicals and Radiation in Healthcare
Recognizing and controlling the chemical and radiation hazards of healthcare work, for nurses, pharmacy, lab, imaging and environmental services staff: hazardous drugs such as antineoplastics, the NIOSH list and USP General Chapter 800, safe handling from receiving to administration and disposal, closed-system devices and spill kits, sterilants and disinfectants, anesthetic gases, formaldehyde and laboratory chemicals under HazCom and the OSHA lab standard, latex and other sensitizers, ionizing radiation in X-ray, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine with time, distance and shielding and dosimetry under NRC and state rules, lasers and MRI magnetic fields, and a hazardous drug safety plan.
HSE-394 12 lessons · 4 h 25 min ▶ Video lessons coming soon
Offered by HSM University · Safety Training
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Identify the main chemical and radiation hazards in healthcare, the workers exposed to each, and the four routes by which chemicals enter the body.
- Describe the rules that apply in Minnesota: the General Duty Clause, HazCom, the laboratory, formaldehyde and ethylene oxide standards, USP General Chapter 800 and state radiation rules based on NRC limits.
- Explain what makes a drug hazardous, how the 2024 NIOSH list is organized, and what the evidence shows about harm to workers.
- Apply engineering controls, safe work practices and PPE to hazardous drugs from receiving through compounding, transport and administration to body fluids and linen.
- Respond to hazardous drug spills and exposures, and handle trace and bulk hazardous drug waste correctly.
- Use disinfectants and sterilants safely, including correct dilution, enclosure and ventilation for high-level disinfectants, and the controls for ethylene oxide.
- Explain the sources and effects of waste anesthetic gases and the scavenging, ventilation, equipment and practice controls that reduce exposure.
- Control formaldehyde, solvents and other laboratory chemicals with ventilated stations, compatible storage, fume hoods and cryogen precautions.
- Recognize irritant and allergic reactions to latex and other sensitizers, and protect the skin and airways of healthcare workers.
- Apply time, distance and shielding and the ALARA principle, state the occupational dose limits, and use personal dosimeters correctly.
- Protect staff in X-ray, fluoroscopy, CT and nuclear medicine, and care safely for patients who carry radioactive material.
- Apply laser and MRI safety controls, and write and review a hazardous drug safety plan for a clinical area.
Course content
12 lessons · 4 h 25 min total · final exam
- 1 Chemical and radiation hazards in healthcare 23 min · quiz
- 2 Hazardous drugs: what they are and why they matter 23 min · quiz
- 3 Handling hazardous drugs safely 23 min · quiz
- 4 Hazardous drug spills and waste 23 min · quiz
- 5 Disinfectants and sterilants 22 min · quiz
- 6 Anesthetic gases 22 min · quiz
- 7 Laboratory chemicals and formaldehyde 21 min · quiz
- 8 Latex and other sensitizers 21 min · quiz
- 9 Ionizing radiation: principles of protection 22 min · quiz
- 10 Radiation in imaging and nuclear medicine 21 min · quiz
- 11 Lasers and MRI safety 22 min · quiz
- 12 Capstone: a hazardous drug safety plan 22 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
Recognizing and controlling the chemical and radiation hazards of healthcare work, for nurses, pharmacy, lab, imaging and environmental services staff: hazardous drugs such as antineoplastics, the NIOSH list and USP General Chapter 800, safe handling from receiving to administration and disposal, closed-system devices and spill kits, sterilants and disinfectants, anesthetic gases, formaldehyde and laboratory chemicals under HazCom and the OSHA lab standard, latex and other sensitizers, ionizing radiation in X-ray, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine with time, distance and shielding and dosimetry under NRC and state rules, lasers and MRI magnetic fields, and a hazardous drug safety plan.