What is the purpose of a medical surveillance program for hazardous drug exposure?

• A. Monitor health status of workers at risk, detect early signs of exposure, and provide appropriate medical follow-up.
• B. Increase production efficiency by removing PPE and training requirements.
• C. Reduce inventory by limiting drug usage.
• D. Focus on marketing and external regulatory liaison.

Answer: (A)

Medical surveillance for hazardous drugs focuses on protecting workers’ health by systematically tracking how exposure might affect them. It involves establishing a health baseline for workers at risk and then performing periodic evaluations and symptom checks. If any signs of exposure or adverse effects appear, the program ensures timely medical follow-up, which may include additional testing, medical advice, adjustments to job duties, or referrals for treatment. This ongoing monitoring helps catch problems early, so exposure can be reduced and health risks minimized, and it also helps verify that controls like engineering measures and proper PPE are actually effective. It’s not about boosting production, reducing inventory, or handling marketing or regulatory tasks.