When we talk about NIOSH hazardous drugs, a list of medications identified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as posing serious health risks to healthcare workers through exposure. Also known as hazardous pharmaceuticals, these are not just strong medicines—they’re potential threats to anyone who handles them daily. This isn’t about patients taking pills at home. This is about nurses, pharmacists, cleaners, and even delivery drivers who come into contact with these drugs in hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
These drugs include chemotherapy agents like doxorubicin, a common cancer drug linked to reproductive harm and increased cancer risk in exposed workers, and methotrexate, used for autoimmune diseases but known to cause birth defects and organ damage with chronic exposure. Even common drugs like fentanyl, a powerful opioid used for pain control, are on the list because skin contact or inhalation can lead to overdose in workers. The NIOSH list updates every few years, and it’s not just about cancer drugs anymore—it’s about any medication with the potential to cause harm through repeated, low-level exposure.
Who’s most at risk? Nurses preparing IVs, pharmacists filling prescriptions, pharmacy techs sorting pills, and housekeeping staff cleaning rooms where these drugs are used. Even opening a bottle or wiping down a surface can lead to exposure if proper controls aren’t in place. The real danger? It’s silent. You won’t feel it right away. But over months or years, repeated exposure can lead to infertility, miscarriages, liver damage, or even cancer. That’s why the NIOSH guidelines exist—not to scare people, but to make sure everyone knows how to protect themselves.
You’ll find posts here that break down exactly which drugs are on the list, how to spot them in your workplace, and what steps actually work to reduce exposure. From proper glove use and ventilation systems to safe disposal and spill kits, the guides below give you real, practical advice—not theory. Whether you’re a pharmacist checking your inventory, a nurse wondering why your hospital requires double gloves, or a facility manager responsible for safety protocols, this collection gives you the facts you need to act. No fluff. No jargon. Just what you need to keep yourself and your team safe.
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