Hazardous drugs are drugs that have adverse health effects even at low doses. Cytotoxic drugs are substances that inhibit or prevent cell function and are primarily used in chemotherapy. 

The accreditation standards currently lack specifics regarding use and handling of hazardous and cytotoxic drugs, especially some of the more powerful anti-neoplastic drugs. The Practice Facility Accreditation Committee (PFAC) expects that facilities using these products have protocols to ensure staff, client and patient safety is maintained. This resulted from shared information from WorkSafe BC, who discovered high levels of contamination in non-specialist veterinary facilities that were using certain anti-neoplastic drugs. Useful WorkSafe BC links: 

• Ask an Officer: Preventing Risk of Exposure to Hazardous Drugs 

• Hazardous Drug Exposure 

• Safe Work Practices for Handling Hazardous Drugs 

• WorkSafe BC Part 6 – Hazardous Drugs (formerly Cytotoxic Drugs) 

• New Hazardous Drug Requirements Come into Effect December 1 

• An amended version of Part 6 – Hazardous Drugs, which was recently approved in July 2023, effective December 1, 2023.