Fórsa and the European Biosafety Network call for greater protection for healthcare workers from exposure to hazardous medicinal products
Fórsa and the European Biosafety Network (EBN) call for greater protection for healthcare workers from long term exposure to hazardous medicinal products (HMPs), which can cause cancer, leukaemia and miscarriages in healthcare workers including pharmacists, technicians, nurses and other workers in health and social care.
A one-day Joint Summit will be held at Fórsa’s office at Nerney’s Court in Dublin on 30th January 2024, with the European Biosafety Network (EBN), the Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland (HPAI) and the National Association of Hospital Pharmacy Technicians (NAHPT). The Summit will look at the practical aspects of preventing occupational exposure of healthcare workers and professionals to HMPs. Exposure to HMPs, often used to treat cancer and other life-threatening conditions, can happen anywhere from manufacture to preparation, administration and disposal, and can cause health impacts from headaches and hair loss to miscarriages, reproductive problems and different types of cancer.
Linda Kelly, National Secretary, Fórsa, said:
“With the issue of exposure to hazardous medicinal products (HMPs) directly and indirectly impacting so many of our members, it is imperative that awareness by employers and workers of the risks is improved and we act now to prevent the damaging health effects that exposure to HMPs can have on the workforce.
“We are calling for preventive measures and closed systems to be put in place to protect all workers potentially exposed to contamination. We must work holistically to ensure that all workers in health and social care are sufficiently protected when doing their jobs.
“The new EU Directive that includes HMPs for the first time must be transposed into Irish law by 5 April 2024. But the real work does not stop with changes to legislation or the implementation of new EU guidance; employers in Irish health and social care need to understand the risks of exposure to HMPs, implement controls and take immediate action to protect workers.”
Fórsa, the EBN, HPAI and NAHPT will call on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to urgently update their ‘Guideline on the Safe Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs’, which was last published in February 2022, to include updates made to the new EU Directive and new EU guidance on handling HMPs. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) must also play a role by increasing inspections of healthcare and manufacturing sites which handle and produce HMPs.
The European Union (EU) Directive on Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxins was amended in 2022 to include HMPs (as well as reprotoxic substances) within its scope for the first time. In April 2023, the EU published new guidance for the safe management of HMPs at work, which includes a much broader definition of HMPs, not just cytotoxic or cytostatic drugs, but also antivirals, hormones and hormonal antagonists, and immunosuppressants.
There is an updated and broader definition of HMPs in both the Directive and the new EU guidance on handling HMPs in the workplace and the EU are set to produce an indicative list of HMPs by 2025. Transposition of the EU legislation must take place in member states, including Ireland, by 5 April 2024.
Ian Lindsley, Secretary, European Biosafety Network:
“The European Biosafety Network conducted a survey to determine the level of awareness and protection of workers in Ireland of the risk of exposure to HMPs and what safe handling measures were in place to prevent exposure. Worryingly the results presented at the Summit show a lack of awareness about the issue and low levels of risk assessments undertaken, coupled with insufficient training and a lack of preventive measures and surveillance of contamination.
“New EU legislation and guidance must be disseminated and implemented in Ireland now to protect healthcare workers from potentially devastating health impacts due to exposure at work. Further progress needs to be made. And fast.”
About Fórsa
Fórsa is the second largest union on the island of Ireland and the largest trade union voice in the Irish civil and public service. The union was formed in 2018 following the amalgamation of the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU), IMPACT and the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU). The union represents over 80,000 members working in the public service, as well as the commercial sector, state agencies, some private companies and in the community and voluntary sector. Within its Health and Wellbeing division, Fórsa represents over 30,000 health and welfare professionals, working to ensure better healthcare outcomes for all services users.
About European Biosafety Network
The European Biosafety Network (EBN) was established in 2010 following the adoption of the European Directive on Preventing Sharps Injuries in Hospitals and Healthcare Settings (2010/32/EU) with a commitment to improve the safety of patients and healthcare and non-healthcare workers. The EBN campaigns for the prevention of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs, or hazardous medicinal products (HMPs), and is part of the Stop Cancer at Work campaign with representatives of EU unions, nurses, doctors, cancer patients and technicians. This includes the effective implementation and transposition of new EU legislation, regulations and guidelines on the safe handling of HMPs into member states to protect healthcare workers from cancer, miscarriages and other health risks from exposure.
