Safe Handling

Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs – to be launched soon!

SHForming part of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology (CAPhO) Oncology Essentials Series, along with Oncology Basics, Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs Program is an online self-study program available to CAPhO members 24/7 at no charge. 

This online education is intended for pharmacy personnel who may come in contact with hazardous drugs including pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and pharmacists, and consists of an introduction, 5 self-study modules and an evaluation survey, as follows:

  • Module 1: Introduction to Hazardous Drug Handling
  • Module 2: Personnel and Designated Responsibilities
  • Module 3: Facility Design and Equipment
  • Module 4: Personal Protective Equipment
  • Module 5: Cleaning and Disinfecting
  • Module 6: Hazardous Drug Spill Cleanup

Check back here for access to the Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs Program, available to CAPhO members at no charge.

The Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs educational initiative is a product of the efforts, resources, and time of many.  Special thanks to Yvonne Dresen, Colleen Thurber, Samantha Wright, Julie Melmoth, Richelle Bailey, Andrea Harris, Michelle Koberinski, and the project support team.

Module Overview | Contributors

Overview

Module 1: Introduction to Hazardous Drug Handling
This module will provide you with an introduction to the safe handling of hazardous drugs.

Module 2: Personnel and Designated Responsibilities
This module provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of key personnel involved in hazardous drug compounding.

Module 3: Facility Design and Equipment
This module provides outline of the requirements facilities must meet in order to perform sterile and non-sterile compounding.

Module 4: Personal Protective Equipment
This module will provide you with a summary of appropriate personal protective equipment to wear when handling hazardous drugs.

Module 5: Cleaning and Disinfecting
This module will provide you with the requirements for cleaning, deactivating, decontaminating and disinfecting areas reserved for compounding hazardous drugs.

Module 6: Hazardous Drug Spill Cleanup
This module will provide you with an overview of hazardous drug spill management.

Contributors

Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs is an educational initiative that is a product of the efforts, resources, and time of the following CAPhO members:
 

Photo of Michelle Koberinski
Photo of Michelle Koberinski
Michelle Koberinski
Coordinator, Oncology Certification Program, Provincial Pharmacy, BC Cancer — Kelowna, British Columbia
Michelle Koberinski has worked in various community and hospital pharmacy settings in BC and Alberta since graduating from Vancouver Community College’s Pharmacy Technician Program in 1999. She currently works for Provincial Pharmacy at BC Cancer as the Oncology Certification Pharmacy Technician where she developed, implements, and maintains an Oncology Certification program for pharmacy staff in British Columbia that prepares and dispenses oncology medication. In 2010, Michelle received CAPhO’s Merit award for her work on the BCCA Pharmacy Practice Standards for Hazardous Drugs Manual. Michelle dedicates much of her time to improving aseptic compounding processes that involve hazardous drugs and developing guidelines for safe practice.
Introduction, Review, Video Production, Narration, Module Oversight
Photo of Michelle Koberinski
Coordinator, Oncology Certification Program
Michelle Koberinski
 
Photo of Yvonne Dresen
Photo of Yvonne Dresen
Yvonne Dresen
Coordinator, Pharmacy Sterile Compounding Services and Distribution, Pharmacy, Northern Health - UHNBC — Prince George, British Columbia
Module 2: Personnel and Designated Responsibilities, Video Production
Photo of Yvonne Dresen
Coordinator, Pharmacy Sterile Compounding Services and Distribution
Yvonne Dresen
 
Photo of Colleen Thurber
Photo of Colleen Thurber
Colleen Thurber
Senior Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Colleen graduated with a Pharmacy Technician Certificate from SIAST in 1998 and started her career with the Royal University Hospital pharmacy department in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan the same year. She has worked as an oncology pharmacy technician at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre since 2004 and moved to a senior technician position in 2009. Colleen is also the Co-chairperson of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee at the Cancer Centre.
Module 3: Facility Design and Equipment, Module Oversight
Photo of Colleen Thurber
Senior Pharmacy Technician
Colleen Thurber
 
Photo of Samantha Wright
Photo of Samantha Wright
Samantha Wright
Manager of Operations, Cancer Centre, The Ottawa hospital — Orleans, Ontario
Samatha has been exposed to many various jobs over the years, and as a supervisor over came barriers via collaborative and successful efforts. As a manager, she is responsible for a variety of projects, with a particular focus on NAPRA implementation and a corporate approach to the operational side of the pharmacy. She is looking forward to continuing lo learn in my new capacity and making an impact at TOH.
Module 4: Personal Protective Equipment & Module 5: Cleaning and Disinfecting
Photo of Samantha Wright
Manager of Operations
Samantha Wright
 
Photo of Julie Melmoth
Photo of Julie Melmoth
Julie Melmoth
RPhT., Drug Information & Application, Alberta Health Services — Westlock, Alberta
CAPhO BOD & Technician/Assistant Education Committee Chair
Module 6: Hazardous Drug Spill Cleanup
Photo of Julie Melmoth
RPhT.
Julie Melmoth
 
Richelle Bailey
Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacy, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency — Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Review
Pharmacy Technician
Richelle Bailey
 
Andrea Harris
Pharmacy Technician Supervisor, Pharmacy, BC Cancer - Kelowna — Kelowna, British Columbia
Andrea started her career as a pharmacy technician in Vancouver over 30 years ago. After almost 10 years at St. Paul’s Hospital, she moved to Red Deer (AB), then Burlington (ON), and finally to Kelowna (BC), where she and her husband raised their 4 children over the past 18 years. She has enjoyed her role in the implementation of the NAPRA Model standards in her pharmacy and continues to support her technicians to work in their full scope of practice. When not at work or watching her kids in their sports, Andrea enjoys hiking with her dog Finny. She also loves to travel and recently went on a trip through Italy with her family which was one of the best family trips yet.
Actor, Video Production
Pharmacy Technician Supervisor
Andrea Harris
 


The project support team consisted of:

  • Sea to Sky Meeting and Association Management (Administrative support)
  • The Film Factory (Video Production)
  • BC Cancer - Kelowna (Venue for video production)