Pharmacy Hazardous Drug Handling and Safety Audit Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for auditing hazardous drug handling and safety practices in pharmacies, covering storage, preparation, dispensing, and disposal procedures to ensure compliance with USP <800> standards and minimize exposure risks.

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About This Checklist

Proper handling of hazardous drugs in pharmacies is critical for protecting staff, patients, and the environment from potential exposure risks. This Pharmacy Hazardous Drug Handling and Safety Audit Checklist is designed to systematically evaluate and improve practices related to the storage, preparation, dispensing, and disposal of hazardous drugs. By addressing key areas such as personal protective equipment (PPE) use, containment strategies, decontamination procedures, and staff training, this checklist helps ensure compliance with USP <800> standards, minimize exposure risks, and maintain a safe working environment. Regular use of this checklist can significantly enhance safety protocols, reduce occupational exposure, and contribute to better overall health outcomes for pharmacy staff and patients.

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Industry

Healthcare

Standard

USP <800> - Hazardous Drugs Handling

Workspaces

Pharmacies

Occupations

Pharmacists
Pharmacy Technicians
Oncology Pharmacists
Safety Officers
Pharmacy Managers
1
Are appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) used during hazardous drug handling?
2
Are decontamination procedures followed after handling hazardous drugs?
3
How often is hazardous waste disposed of properly (in days)?
Min1
Target7
Max30
4
How effective are the drug containment strategies in place?
5
Have all staff completed training on hazardous drug handling procedures?
6
Describe any incidents related to hazardous drug exposure in the past year.
7
What is the frequency of air quality monitoring in the pharmacy (in days)?
Min1
Target30
Max90
8
When was the last inspection conducted for hazardous drug handling practices?
9
Are containment devices (e.g., closed system transfer devices) used during drug preparation?
10
Are staff aware of emergency procedures for hazardous drug spills?
11
How often is the ventilation system checked for hazardous drug handling areas (in months)?
Min1
Target6
Max12
12
Provide a summary of the safety training provided to staff regarding hazardous drug handling.
13
Is hazardous drug storage compliant with USP <800> guidelines?
14
List the types of personal protective equipment available for hazardous drug handling.
15
What was the score of the most recent annual safety audit (out of 100)?
Min0
Target85
Max100
16
When was the last training session on hazardous drug handling conducted?
17
Are all hazardous drug containers properly labeled according to safety standards?
18
What is the adherence level to personal protective equipment usage during drug handling?
19
What is the average response time to hazardous drug spills (in minutes)?
Min1
Target5
Max30
20
Provide a summary of the risk assessment conducted for hazardous drug handling.

FAQs

The audit should be conducted at least semi-annually, with more frequent checks in high-volume hazardous drug handling areas or after any changes in procedures or equipment.

The audit is typically performed by specially trained pharmacists, pharmacy managers, or designated safety officers with expertise in USP <800> standards and hazardous drug handling practices.

The checklist covers areas such as facility design, PPE use, containment strategies, cleaning and decontamination procedures, staff training and competency, and waste disposal practices.

Audit results can be used to identify areas for improvement in safety protocols, update standard operating procedures, enhance staff training programs, and implement more effective containment and disposal strategies.

Yes, the checklist is designed to cover both sterile and non-sterile hazardous drug handling practices, with specific considerations for each type of compounding as required by USP <800> standards.

Benefits of Pharmacy Hazardous Drug Handling and Safety Audit Checklist

Ensures compliance with USP <800> standards for handling hazardous drugs

Minimizes the risk of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs for pharmacy staff

Improves safety protocols for the preparation, dispensing, and disposal of hazardous drugs

Enhances environmental protection through proper containment and disposal practices

Promotes a culture of safety awareness and continuous improvement in hazardous drug handling