NIOSH Proposes Additions to 2018 Hazardous Drug List

NIOSH proposes that 20 new drugs, along with two others that already have special-handling information specified by the manufacturer, be added to the agency’s hazardous drug list for healthcare settings in 2018. The agency also proposes one class of drug, botulinum toxins, for placement on the list. A new draft document lists the proposed additions for public comment. Comments on this list must be submitted by April 16, 2018. Visit the docket page on Regulations.gov for supporting documents and instructions on submitting comments.

For more information on the review process for the addition of the new listings, see the Federal Register notice.

The NIOSH List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings builds on a NIOSH alert from 2004 that warned healthcare employers and workers of the risks of working with hazardous drugs and discussed measures they could take to protect their health. The 2004 list of hazardous drugs was updated in 2010, 2012, 2014, and most recently in 2016, when 34 new drugs were added to the list. The 2016 list covers all new approved drugs and drugs with new warnings up to December 2011, plus drugs reviewed by NIOSH from January 2012 to December 2013.