Safe Handling of drugs & chemicals

Drug safety  The practice should have in place a policy on what to do if confronted with a criminal wanting the drugs.  Policy should be made quite clear to all members of staff who later join the practice.  This policy should not be common knowledge.

Drug abuse  Drug abuse is not an uncommon problem in the profession.  This is due to the ease of access.  Ensuring proper records makes access more difficult.  Keep yourself safe from being blamed if drugs go missing by ensuring you always follow the correct procedures.

Accidents with drugs  Any drug can be harmful if accidentally injected into oneself.  The drugs that are of particular concern to veterinary nurses include: anaesthetics, some vaccines, hormones and prostaglandins, parasiticides, cytotoxic drugs (drugs that damage or kill cells, eg used to treat malignancies) and antibiotics.

Chemical safety  All chemicals in a laboratory or clinic must have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).  Provided by the manufacturer.  Provide important information on spillage disposal and safety.  Learn to read these complex data sheets.  Advisable to have a summary of this information for commonly used chemicals displayed in a handy location for an emergency.

 Toxic chemical.  Avoid ingesting, injecting, inhaling fumes or skin contact.  The terms poison and toxic are interchangeable.  Toxic labels may be used with other labels eg corrosive or flammable.

 Corrosive.  Avoid skin contact and avoid inhaling fumes, a fume hood may be required.

 Biohazard.  Treat as potentially infectious.  Laboratory samples are biohazards.  Seal lids tightly to prevent leakage and package to avoid breakage.  Transport in a bio-hazard bag.

 Radioactive.  Use lead protection, limit exposure and take special care at child bearing and child siring ages.

 Flammable.  Avoid all ignition sources, do not store in the refrigerator.  Includes formalin used to preserve tissue. Care must be taken to prevent formalin fumes leaking.

 Oxidising agent including peroxide forming compounds.  Treat as flammable.

 Highly explosive!!

 Known carcinogen, mutagen or teratogen.  Substances with this label need handled with caution especially avoiding skin contact and avoid inhaling fumes.

 Harmful (moderately).  Stow away from foodstuffs.

 Irritant.  Avoid skin contact and avoid inhaling fumes.