Healthcare workers are also exposed when patients are transferred to the recovery room and exhale anesthetic gases into the general workplace atmosphere. Antineoplastic agents have been shown to cause reproductive effects and cancer in exposed healthcare workers. Safe handling guidelines were published in the mid-1980s by the National Institute of Health and later by OSHA to control dermal and inhalation exposure associated with the mixing and administration of these drugs. Yet a survey conducted in the late 1980s found variations in staff compliance with the OSHA guidelines. Aerosolized medication such as ribavirin, used to treat pediatric pneumonias and the drug pentamidine, used to treat AIDS patients, pose unique threats because of how these drugs are administered.
Ribavirin is a potential human teratogen.
OSHA should issue rules to protect workers from a wide range of unregulated, but highly toxic chemicals which are used in the healthcare environment. Many healthcare workers have become infected with tuberculosis in recent years. Others have died. Today we understand that a final tuberculosis standard is at least another year away. Tragically, the length of time and amount of resources that OSHA has expended to achieve a rule on this relatively non-controversial issue seriously calls into question whether OSHA can issue a regulation on any hazard under the current environment.