February 2026
In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education blog, Kali Marsh, RVT, CVT, Compliance Manager with Certified Safety Training, highlights the occupational health risks hazardous drugs pose to veterinary staff and the importance of OSHA-compliant protocols for safe handling, PPE use, and employee training. Learn how to protect your team and ensure regulatory compliance—read the full blog below!

Hazardous Drugs in Veterinary Medicine

Kali Marsh, RVT, CVT, Compliance Manager with Certified Safety Training

Hazardous drugs are commonly used in veterinary medicine for chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunosuppression, and antiviral treatments. While these medications are essential for patient care, they present well-documented occupational health risks to veterinary staff. Regulatory agencies emphasize that employers are responsible for identifying these hazards and implementing controls to protect employees from exposure.

Hazardous drugs are medications known to cause carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, or organ toxicity at low doses. In veterinary settings, these drugs may be used in both routine and specialty care, increasing the likelihood of employee exposure if proper safeguards are not in place. OSHA and NIOSH guidance identify hazardous drug handling as a recognized workplace hazard requiring proactive risk management.

Exposure Risks in Veterinary Settings

Employee exposure can occur during drug receipt, storage, preparation, administration, spill response, waste disposal, and when handling animal excreta following treatment. Routes of exposure include skin contact, inhalation of aerosols or powders, accidental injection, and contact with contaminated surfaces. OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires employers to protect employees from these foreseeable hazards when no specific standard applies.

 

Veterinary employers must implement a hierarchy of controls to minimize exposure. Engineering controls, such as biological safety cabinets and closed-system drug-transfer devices, should be used when feasible. Administrative controls must include written hazardous drug handling procedures, clear labeling, spill response protocols, and restricted access to preparation areas.


Personal protective equipment (PPE), including chemotherapy-rated gloves, protective gowns, eye protection, and respiratory protection when indicated, must be provided at no cost to employees and used consistently. Employers are also responsible for ensuring proper storage, disposal, and decontamination procedures are followed to prevent secondary exposure.

Training and Documentation Requirements

OSHA requires employers to train employees on workplace hazards that may cause harm. Veterinary staff who handle or may be exposed to hazardous drugs must receive training on health risks, safe handling practices, PPE use, spill response, and emergency procedures. Training must be documented and updated when new drugs, processes, or hazards are introduced. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must also be readily accessible for all hazardous medications.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

Failure to adequately control hazardous drug exposure can result in OSHA citations, workers’ compensation claims, and long-term employee health consequences. Regular audits, updated training programs, and consistent documentation help demonstrate compliance and reduce regulatory risk. Proactively addressing hazardous drug safety also supports employee retention and a safer workplace culture.

OSHA expects veterinary employers to identify hazardous drug risks and train employees accordingly. Ensure your team is compliant by providing documented OSHA-aligned training on hazardous drug handling, PPE use, and exposure prevention. Proactive training not only supports regulatory compliance—it protects your staff and your practice.

For more Certified Safety Training lessons and resources, visit our ongoing series to improve workplace safety and compliance in the veterinary space HERE!

Please note the opinions in this video are the expressed opinion of the author(s), and not directly endorsed by VETgirl.

Only VETgirl members can leave comments. Sign In or Join VETgirl now!