4. a. No later than 12 months after the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Health and the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, in consultation with a stakeholder group as defined in section 3 of P.L.2017, c.69 (C. 45:1-58), shall adopt standards and regulations in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.) concerning the handling of hazardous drugs by health care personnel employed by a health care professional or employed in a health care facility, pharmacy practice site, or animal or veterinary facility.

b. The standards and regulations to be adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall describe the hazardous drugs for which handling is to be regulated, the methods and procedures for handling such drugs, an implementation plan, and such other requirements as may be necessary to protect the health and safety of health care personnel employed by a health care professional or employed in a health care facility, pharmacy practice site, or animal or veterinary facility, including, but not limited to:

(1) written, site-specific hazardous drug control programs to avoid occupational exposure to hazardous drugs through transporting, compounding, administering, disposing, or other handling of the drugs;

(2) hazard assessments to determine precautions necessary to protect health care personnel from exposure to hazardous drugs;

(3) engineering controls to eliminate or minimize exposure to hazardous drugs;

(4) personal protective equipment and the circumstances under which personal protective equipment shall be used by health care personnel;

(5) safe handling practices related to hazardous drugs, including handling, receiving, storage, preparing, administering, waste handling, cleaning, housekeeping, labeling and signage, and maintenance practices;

(6) spill control and response procedures;

(7) training standards and training programs;

(8) requirements for recordkeeping, including records related to training sessions, qualifications, incident reports, and other pertinent information; and

(9) appropriate medical surveillance for health care personnel who directly handle hazardous drugs.

c. The standards and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include requirements for inspections by the appropriate licensing or inspection authority and a schedule of penalties for violations of the provisions of this act or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

d. The standards and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be based on the most recent recommendations set forth by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

L.2017, c.69, s.4.