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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.

Pharmacy Hazardous Drug Handling and Safety Audit Checklist
by: audit-now
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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?

Select the level of compliance with PPE requirements.

To ensure that staff are protected from occupational exposure to hazardous drugs.
2
Are decontamination procedures followed after handling hazardous drugs?

Indicate if decontamination procedures are being followed.

To minimize the risk of contamination and ensure environmental protection.
3
How often is hazardous waste disposed of properly (in days)?

Enter the frequency of hazardous waste disposal.

To assess compliance with hazardous waste disposal regulations.
Min: 1
Target: 7
Max: 30
4
How effective are the drug containment strategies in place?

Select the effectiveness rating of drug containment strategies.

To evaluate the safety measures against hazardous drug exposure.

5
Have all staff completed training on hazardous drug handling procedures?

Select the training compliance status of the staff.

To ensure that all personnel are knowledgeable about safety practices related to hazardous drugs.
6
Describe any incidents related to hazardous drug exposure in the past year.

Provide details of any incidents.

To monitor and analyze incidents to improve safety practices.
7
What is the frequency of air quality monitoring in the pharmacy (in days)?

Enter the air quality monitoring frequency.

To ensure the air quality is regularly assessed to protect staff from exposure to hazardous drugs.
Min: 1
Target: 30
Max: 90
8
When was the last inspection conducted for hazardous drug handling practices?

Select the date of the last inspection.

To track compliance with inspection requirements and ensure timely reviews.

9
Are containment devices (e.g., closed system transfer devices) used during drug preparation?

Indicate if containment devices are in use.

To ensure that exposure to hazardous drugs is minimized during preparation.
10
Are staff aware of emergency procedures for hazardous drug spills?

Select the level of awareness regarding emergency procedures.

To ensure that all personnel can respond effectively in case of a hazardous drug spill.
11
How often is the ventilation system checked for hazardous drug handling areas (in months)?

Enter the frequency of ventilation system checks.

To confirm that the ventilation system is functioning properly to protect staff from exposure.
Min: 1
Target: 6
Max: 12
12
Provide a summary of the safety training provided to staff regarding hazardous drug handling.

Write a summary of the safety training.

To ensure that training is comprehensive and covers all relevant safety measures.

13
Is hazardous drug storage compliant with USP <800> guidelines?

Select the storage compliance status.

To ensure that hazardous drugs are stored safely and in accordance with established standards.
14
List the types of personal protective equipment available for hazardous drug handling.

Provide a list of available PPE.

To ensure that adequate PPE is available for staff safety.
15
What was the score of the most recent annual safety audit (out of 100)?

Enter the safety audit score.

To assess the overall safety performance related to hazardous drug handling.
Min: 0
Target: 85
Max: 100
16
When was the last training session on hazardous drug handling conducted?

Select the date of the last training session.

To ensure that training is current and up to date for all relevant staff.

17
Are all hazardous drug containers properly labeled according to safety standards?

Indicate if all containers are properly labeled.

To ensure that all hazardous drugs are clearly identified and to prevent accidental exposure.
18
What is the adherence level to personal protective equipment usage during drug handling?

Select the adherence level for PPE usage.

To evaluate compliance with safety protocols for handling hazardous drugs.
19
What is the average response time to hazardous drug spills (in minutes)?

Enter the average spill response time.

To evaluate the efficiency of spill response procedures and ensure prompt action.
Min: 1
Target: 5
Max: 30
20
Provide a summary of the risk assessment conducted for hazardous drug handling.

Write a summary of the risk assessment.

To document potential risks and the measures taken to mitigate them.

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

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