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Medication Handling SWMS

Medication handling in healthcare exposes workers to hazardous drugs including cytotoxic agents that cause cancer, reproductive harm, and organ toxicity through dermal absorption, inhalation of drug aerosols, and accidental needlestick exposure. Cytotoxic drugs are handled during reconstitution, administration, patient care (body fluids of treated patients), and waste disposal. Non-cytotoxic hazardous drugs including antiviral agents, hormones, and immunosuppressants also present occupational exposure risks. This template covers medication handling procedures from receipt through to waste disposal with controls mapped to the binding Healthcare Code effective 1 July 2026.

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Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 7.1 — Hazardous Chemicals; Healthcare Code 2026

hrcw category

Work involving hazardous chemicals (hazardous drugs)

code of practice

Healthcare Code of Practice 2026; Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals (binding 1 July 2026 under Section 26A)

section 26a binding

Yes — Healthcare and Hazardous Chemicals codes binding July 2026.

Hazards

HazardConsequenceLikelihood
Cytotoxic drug inhalation during reconstitution and preparationCancer, reproductive harm, organ toxicityPossible
Dermal absorption of hazardous drugs through inadequate glove protectionSystemic drug exposure, reproductive effectsPossible
Needlestick exposure to cytotoxic drug solution during administrationLocal tissue damage, systemic drug absorptionUnlikely
Exposure to body fluids of patients treated with cytotoxic drugsSecondary drug exposure through urine, vomit, faecesPossible
Cytotoxic drug spill causing environmental contaminationWidespread drug exposure to multiple workersUnlikely

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Prepare all cytotoxic drugs in a certified biological safety cabinet or cytotoxic drug safety cabinet
Use closed-system transfer devices for all cytotoxic drug reconstitution and administration
Require double chemotherapy-rated gloves, gown, and eye protection for all cytotoxic drug handling
Handle body fluids of cytotoxic-treated patients as hazardous for 48 hours post-treatment
Maintain cytotoxic spill kits in all areas where hazardous drugs are prepared, administered, or stored
Dispose of all cytotoxic waste in dedicated purple cytotoxic waste containers
Provide health monitoring including reproductive health screening for regularly exposed workers

Recent Prosecutions

SafeWork NSW v Cancer Treatment Centre$250,000

Nurses prepared cytotoxic drugs on open bench without biological safety cabinet or CSTD. Multiple staff reported reproductive health concerns. No health monitoring program in place.

2024 — SafeWork NSW Prosecution Database

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Biological safety cabinet or CSTD requirements for each drug preparation activity
✓PPE specification for cytotoxic drug handling — double gloves, gown, eye protection
✓Body fluid handling precautions for cytotoxic-treated patients with timeframes
✓Cytotoxic spill management procedure with spill kit contents and location
✓Health monitoring program for regularly exposed workers

Need a compliant Medication Handling SWMS?

Our WHS consultants develop medication handling SWMS with cytotoxic drug controls and closed-system transfer specifications.

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