NIOSH Updates Hazardous Drug List for Healthcare Workers
NIOSH has released an updated list of hazardous drugs for healthcare workers, incorporating 25 new drugs and removing seven.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Dec 25, 2024
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has published the 2024 update to its List of Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings, marking the first revision since 2016. The updated list adds 25 drugs—including 12 with special handling instructions from manufacturers—and removes seven drugs.
According to a recent release, key changes in the 2024 edition include a streamlined format with two tables, a reorganization of drug placements, and updates to the classification and nomenclature of various drugs. It also highlights drugs approved under a biologics license application (BLA). The list guides healthcare employers and workers in identifying hazardous drugs and reducing risk through new safety measures.
“This list is an invaluable resource for millions of workers in healthcare settings who may potentially be exposed to hazardous drugs in the course of their work,” NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., said in a statement. “The updates to the list published today complete a suite of tools that we encourage workers and their employers to use to manage risk and be protected from potentially hazardous exposures.”
The revision process focused on drugs approved or flagged with new safety warnings by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between January 2014 and December 2015. NIOSH aims to increase awareness among healthcare workers about the risks of handling these substances and provide guidance on mitigating exposure.
For more details, visit the NIOSH Hazardous Drug Exposure in Healthcare webpage.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.