Which organization provides guidelines for the safe handling of hazardous drugs?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the organization that specifically develops and provides guidelines for the safe handling of hazardous drugs. NIOSH is dedicated to ensuring worker safety and health by preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. They create guidelines that include the recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace hazards, which is particularly essential when dealing with hazardous drugs in healthcare settings.

NIOSH has published a list of hazardous drugs and has also issued recommendations for handling them safely in various contexts, highlighting the importance of personal protective equipment, engineering controls, and safe handling practices. This focus on worker safety in relation to hazardous drugs distinguishes NIOSH from the other organizations mentioned in the options.

OSHA, while it sets and enforces workplace safety standards, does not specifically provide comprehensive guidelines regarding hazardous drug handling. The FDA is primarily focused on the approval and regulation of drugs, not specifically on their safe handling in the workplace. Meanwhile, the CDC provides guidelines on public health and safety but does not specialize in the occupational safety pertaining specifically to hazardous drugs. Therefore, NIOSH's distinct role in establishing guidelines related to hazardous drug handling is what makes it the correct answer.