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When I was a nurse in the hospital setting there were several potential workplace  hazards that included chemical, biological, and radiological exposures. Medicines are chemical exposures and have a range of toxicities depending on amount and type of medicine. Chemotherapy, for example, is highly toxic and oncology nurses are exposed to these chemicals regularly. Nurses are also exposed to biological hazards that can cause infection or illness and radiological exposures that include X-rays. Training on how to keep nurses safe is required to understand how to use required safety precautions and use PPE when necessary. 

The Hierarchy of Controls is used to reduce the risk of chemical, biological, and radiological exposure. One common area where nurses often have a biological exposure is when administering injections. Changes in technological and administration techniques have decrease exposure risk. When administering an injection, nurses are required to use gloves (PPE) to protect themselves from blood.  During the administration, they are to hold the needle in a downward position with the cap on to protect themselves or others from an accidental puncture. Immediately after the injection, they should retract or cover the needle with the plastic covering to decrease exposure risk. Engineering controls that include pre-loaded injections and retractable needles have decreased accidental self injection of a dirty needle. Also, needles are discarded in a biological box to protect workers from accidental punctures. If the medication can be administered other than an injection, that method might be preferred. This substitution would decrease the exposure as elimination of injections is unlikely at this time.