Final answer:
When handling unopened platinum medication vials, personnel must wear protective gloves to prevent contamination and ensure safety. While checking for expiration dates is necessary, it's not the primary concern during initial handling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Personnel who handle unopened platinum medication vials should adhere to specific safety protocols to ensure both their safety and the integrity of the medication. Among the options provided, they must: a. Wear protective gloves. This is a standard practice in medical and laboratory settings when handling medication to prevent contamination and protect the staff from exposure to potentially hazardous substances. Checking for expiration dates is also important, but the primary concern when first handling the vials is personal protective equipment. Storing medication in the refrigerator or disposing of them immediately are actions that might be necessary depending on the situation, but they are not related to the initial handling of the vials.
Guidelines for the proper disposal of protective gear and the handling of potentially contaminated materials emphasize the importance of protective clothing. Contaminated waste must be properly processed and personnel must take care to avoid direct contact with potentially hazardous materials without the proper safety protections in place. Therefore, the correct action upon initially handling an unopened platinum medication vial is to wear protective gloves.