Alternative Duty: Temporary reassignment for health care workers who work with hazardous drugs

NIOSH intends to publish a Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) on alternative duty and other forms of administrative controls for health care workers who work with hazardous drugs and are trying to conceive, are pregnant, and/or are breast feeding. Alternative duty involves transferring the worker to a similar position, but one in which they would not be required to handle hazardous drugs.

Background Information

Notice; 74 FR 47594; Notice of public comment period [PDF – 1,539 KB]

References to the Federal Register

ASHP Guidelines on Handling Hazardous Drugs; 1/12/06 [PDF – 18,546 KB]

Dranitsaris G, Johnson M, Poirier S, Schueller T, Milliken D, Green E, Zanke (2005). Are health care providers who work with cancer drugs at an increased risk for toxic events? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. J Oncol Pharm Practice 11(2):69-78 [PDF – 1,148 KB]

Timpe EM, Notl SE, Hogan ML (2004). Environmental exposure of health care workers to category D and X medications. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 61:1556-1561 [PDF – 1,082 KB]

New and expectant mothers at work; A guide for health professionals. C40: 12 pgs [PDF – 12,483 KB]

McInnes S, Schilsky RL (1996). Infertility Following Cancer Chemotherapy. In: Cancer Chemotherapy and Biotherapy, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers, pp 31-44 [PDF – 915 KB]

Fedoruk MJ, Logan DC, McDiarmid MA, Forrester BG, Hughson WG, Holland C, Newby HE, Saunders JH (1996). ACOEM Reproductive Hazard Management Guidelines. JOEM 38(1):83-90 [PDF – 1,199 KB]

Saiki CL, Gold EB, Schenker MB (1994). Workplace Policy on Hazards to Reproductive Health. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews 9(3):541-549 [PDF – 1,272 KB]

Submissions in order of Receipt

Submission to the docket from Beamer (private person) – 9/30/09 [PDF – 34,770 KB]

Submission to the docket from Hill (private person) – 9/30/09 [PDF – 297 KB]

Submission to the docket from Massier (Samaritan Ambulatory & Home Infusion) – 9/30/09 [PDF – 418 KB]

Submission to the docket from Proulx (DFCI @ Milford) – 10/1/09 [PDF – 522 KB]

Submission to the docket from Ward (Potomac Hospital) – 10/1/09 [PDF – 271 KB]

Submission to the docket from Karius (Cleveland Clinic) – 10/12/09 [PDF – 14,719 KB]

Submission to the docket from Vertz (St. Vincent Hospital) – 10/13/09 [PDF – 618 KB]

Submission to the docket from Corey (Clarian North Medical Center) – 10/14/09 [PDF – 760 KB]

Submission to the docket from Coffey (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) – 10/26/09 [PDF – 959 KB]

Submission to the docket from Hughes (American Nurses Association) – 11/4/09 [PDF – 2,349 KB]

Submission to the docket from Prickett (Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare) – 11/11/09 [PDF – 824 KB]

Submission to the docket from Temkin (American Health Care Association) – 11/12/09 [PDF – 768 KB]

Submission to the docket from Cunha (Marshfield Clinic) – 11/13/09 [PDF – 1,915 KB]

Submission to the docket from Engstrom (Department of Veterans Affairs) – 11/13/09 [PDF – 3,328 KB]

Submission to the docket from Hymel (American College of Environmental Medicine) – 11/13/09 [PDF – 3,706 KB]

Submission to the docket from Markle-Elder (United American Nurses, AFL-CIO) – 11/13/09 [PDF – 1,761 KB]

Submission to the docket from Buchta (Mayo Clinic) – 11/16/09 [PDF – 1,528 KB]

Submission to the docket from Mastroianni (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) – 11/16/09 [PDF – 2,168 KB]

Submission to the docket from McDiarmid (University of Maryland School of Medicine) – 11/24/09 [PDF – 80,263 KB]