Information sources

About this information

See Legal requirements for managing cytotoxic medicines for information on how occupational health and safety (OHS) laws apply to the handling of cytotoxic medicines and related waste.

Duty holders also need to consider other regulations and standards, including the following.

Other Acts and regulations

• Dangerous Goods Act 1985
• Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022
• Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2018
• Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981
• Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017
• Environment Protection Act 2017
• Environment Protection Regulations 2021
• Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth)
• Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 (Cth)
• Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002 (Cth)
• Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Act 1989 (Cth)
• Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Regulations 2018 (Cth)
• Therapeutic Goods (Victoria) Act 2010

Australian Standards

• AS 2252.6-2011, Controlled environments, Part 6: Clean workstations - Design, installation and use
• AS/NZS 1715:2009, Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS ISO 16900.11:2015, Respiratory protective devices - Methods of test and test equipment, Part 11: Determination of field of vision
• AS/NZS 1716:2012, Respiratory protective devices
• AS 2243.1:2021, Safety in laboratories, Part 1: Planning and operational aspects
• AS 2243.2:2021, Safety in laboratories, Part 2: Chemical aspects and storage
• AS/NZS 2243.3:2022, Safety in laboratories, Part 3: Microbiological safety and containment
• AS/NZS 2243.4:2018, Safety in laboratories, Part 4: Ionizing radiations
• AS/NZS 2243.5:2004, Safety in laboratories, Part 5: Non-ionizing radiations - Electromagnetic, sound and ultrasound
• AS/NZS 2243.6:2010, Safety in laboratories, Part 6: Plant and equipment aspects
• AS/NZS 2243.8:2014, Safety in laboratories, Part 8: Fume cupboards
• AS/NZS 2243.9:2009, Safety in laboratories, Part 9: Recirculating fume cabinets
• AS 2252.5:2017, Controlled environments, Part 5: Cytotoxic drug safety cabinets (CDSC) - Design, construction, installation, testing and use
• AS 23907:2023 Sharps injury protection- Requirements and test methods- Sharps containers (ISO 23907-2:2019, MOD)
• AS 4273-1999, Design, installation and use of pharmaceutical isolators
• AS 4273-1999/Amdt1-2000, Guidelines for the design, installation and use of pharmaceutical isolators

Codes of practice

• National Transport Commission, Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code), edition 7.8 (2022)
• WorkSafe Victoria Code of practice: The storage and handling of dangerous goods (2022)
• WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code: First aid in the workplace (2021)
• WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code: Hazardous substances (2019)
• WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code: Hazardous manual handling (2019)
• WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code: Workplace facilities and the working environment (2023)

Other guidance

• Australasian Health Infrastructure Alliance, Australasian Health Facility Guidelines: Part B – Health Facility Briefing and Planning 0560 – Pharmacy Unit, 2021
• Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, Don’t rush to crush, 4th edition.
• Victorian Pharmacy Authority, Victorian Pharmacy Authority Guidelines, 2023.
• Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), Seventh revised edition, administered by the United Nations
• Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 17(1), 'A simple approach to assess the cancer risk of occupational exposure to genotoxic drugs in healthcare settings', April 2022.
• SA Health, Cytotoxic drugs and related waste: A risk management guide for South Australian health services, 2015
• Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Guide for handling cytotoxic drugs and related waste

Useful websites

• American Society for Testing and Materials International: astm.org
• Biohazard Waste Industry Australia and New Zealand: wmrr.asn.au
• Cancer Council: cancer.org.au
• Cancer Institute NSW: cancer.nsw.gov.au
• Environment Protection Authority Victoria: epa.vic.gov.au
• International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners: isopp.org
• Pharmacy Board of Australia: pharmacyboard.gov.au
• Safe Work Australia: safeworkaustralia.gov.au
• Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia: shpa.org.au
• Standards Australia: standards.org.au
• Therapeutic Goods Administration: tga.gov.au
• United Nations: unece.org
• Victorian Department of Health: health.vic.gov.au
• Victorian Legislation: legislation.vic.gov.au
• WorkSafe Victoria: worksafe.vic.gov.au