What is the role of engineering controls in hazardous drug handling?

Engineering controls play a vital role in hazardous drug handling by minimizing employee exposure to hazardous substances through physical means. These controls are designed to create barriers between the hazardous drug and the healthcare workers who handle them, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to harmful agents.

Examples of engineering controls include the use of biological safety cabinets (BSCs) or compounding aseptic containment isolators (CACIs) during the preparation of hazardous drugs. These specialized enclosures provide both environmental containment and protect staff from inhaling or coming into direct contact with harmful drugs. To comply with the standards set by USP criteria, such controls must be in place to ensure a safer work environment for pharmacy personnel.

On the other hand, enhancing staff training, managing drug storage, and monitoring drug usage are important aspects of overall safety and compliance in hazardous drug handling, but they do not specifically address the primary purpose of engineering controls. Training focuses on educating staff about risks and procedures, storage discusses safe areas to keep hazardous drugs, and monitoring usage pertains to tracking how these drugs are used. While all these elements contribute to safety, engineering controls specifically target the minimization of physical exposure.