Medical surveillance should be completed at which times?

• A. Prior to handling HD, annually during handling, upon accidental exposure and when employment ends
• B. Only after exposure
• C. Only before initial handling
• D. Monthly during employment

Answer: (A)

Medical surveillance is ongoing health monitoring for workers who handle hazardous drugs to detect early signs of toxicity and ensure safe handling practices. It should be completed at several key points in the employment lifecycle: before first exposure to hazardous drugs to establish a baseline; annually during ongoing handling to monitor for delayed or cumulative effects; after any accidental exposure to promptly assess and manage potential health effects; and when employment ends to document health status and ensure proper transition and record completion. This approach provides baseline data, ongoing safety checks, and timely response to exposures, rather than waiting only after an incident or testing too frequently. Surveillance may include medical history, physical examination, and appropriate lab tests based on the drugs involved, such as blood counts and organ function tests.