Do you work with or around hazardous drugs (HDs)? Are HDs involved in any process of your workplace? If so, new workplace safety standards — including the required use of shoe covers — are on the horizon!

USP <800>, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention’s new standard for handling HDs in healthcare settings, is set to add significant safety standards for all healthcare workers, as well as patients and the general public, who have access to facilities where HDs are prepared. This includes pharmacists, technicians, nurses, physicians, physician assistants, home health care workers, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians. In addition, entities that store, transport, prepare, or administer HDs are affected, including pharmacies, hospitals, other healthcare institutions, patient treatments clinics, physicians’ practice facilities, and veterinary offices.

USP <800> provides organizations with direction on how to set policy and identify what needs to be done for employee safety while handling HDs. These new safety standards expand upon 2008’s USP <797>, which primarily focused on minimizing the risk of contaminating medicines when compounding sterile preparations. USP <800>, however, is primarily aimed at addressing the entire life cycle of an HD so that all who might come in contact with one are protected.

“While [USP <800>] focuses on the protection of healthcare workers, it’s also about patient safety. By keeping ourselves safe, we are protecting our patients as well.”

– Patricia C. Kienle, RPh, MPA, FASHP

Reducing Workplace Exposure to Hazardous Drugs

Growing evidence — accumulated over decades by USP, ONS, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, and the CDC — indicates that occupational exposure to the 200+ HDs commonly used in healthcare settings can cause acute and chronic health issues. In addition, over 100 studies have documented evidence of HD contamination in the workplace, including the presence of HDs in workers’ urine. With nearly eight million healthcare workers exposed each year, USP <800> aims to prevent HD exposure, and therefore, any resulting health effects.

Read more about the evidence of HD exposure and studies here.

USP <800> Updates Require Shoe Covers

Updates from USP <797> to USP <800> include required changes in the following areas:

1. The ways in which compounding of HDs are performed (ventilation, air pressure, air changes, etc.).
2. Negative air pressure requirements in HD storage areas.
3. HD storage and preparation area requirements for HDs and non-HDs, as well as sterile and nonsterile HDs. In addition, an exemption permitted under USP <797>, which allowed small volumes of HDs to be compounded in the same areas as non-HDs, has been eliminated.
4. Mandated use of closed-system transfer devices (CSTDs) to minimize HD exposure to nurses who administer HDs.
5. Personal protective equipment (PPE)—gowns; head, hair, and shoe covers; and two pairs of chemotherapy gloves— are required for compounding both sterile and nonsterile HDs, and two pairs of such gloves are required for administering antineoplastic HDs. Facilities also need to develop standard operating procedures regarding appropriate PPE for any workers who otherwise handle HDs.

Review USP <800> update details here.

Compliant Shoe Covers + Hands-Free Application & Removal

BootieButler’s shoe covers meet USP <800> guidelines: they help create a cleaner, safer, more efficient workplace for those working with or around HDs. Shoe cover KBNS40-600 (constructed of durable spun-bound polypropylene), in particular, is a protective, durable, lightweight, economical, anti-skid, and anti-static option. If you need something different, however, be sure to shop our full line of shoe covers.

Want to provide ultimate safety and protection (and efficiency) in the workplace? Go hands-free. BootieButler’s hands-free shoe cover dispensers and removers create the ideal way to apply and remove disposable shoe covers — they eliminate falling over, dirtying your hands, preventing contamination, and wasting precious time! Our shoe cover dispensers and shoe cover removers (for removal of used shoe covers), play huge safety roles in closely controlled environments, like those around HDs. See how quickly and easily it’s done in our application and removal videos.

USP <800> Timeline and Effective Date

The first public version of USP <800> was released in March 2014, and final standards for USP <800> were published on February 1, 2016.

USP <800> becomes effective July 1, 2018.

Improve Workplace Safety with Shoe Covers and USP <800> Standards

If you haven’t already, it’s time to start protecting yourself, your staff, and your patients. Start by reviewing the USP <800> updates above, then shop shoe covers — and shoe cover applicators and removers — at BootieButler.com!