Blog #21
Prompt #1: Consider your findings on your MSDS about the potential dangers associated with the chemical/product you looked up.
- Was the MSDS an adequate tool for a worker to use to gain an understanding about the potential health risks and how to protect him/herself?
- Consider that the general public reads at a reading level at or below 6th grade, and that's if English is their first language. Was the MSDS still adequate?
I recently had an incident in the emergency department where we had to use the MSDS after one of our patients drank bleach in a suicide attempt. I found that the MSDS was an adequate tool for us to start with in directing our care for the patient.
The MSDS was an adequate tool for us to use with this patient because of the many pieces of information the MSDS gives about this chemical, there were key elements that were crucial to our care of the patient. These were:
- Information about calling poison control
- Accidental release measures
- Handling and storage
- Exposure controls/Personal protection
- Toxicology information – This was important in that it gave expected health effects when contact with the chemical was made
- Ecological information
- Disposal considerations
- First aid measures when it comes in contact with skin and eyes or when it is inhaled or ingested.
It also gave the following advice to the doctor:
This product is a solution of sodium hypochlorite. Corrosive to living tissues. Inhalation may be followed by pulmonary edema. Treat symptomatically. Contact poisons information center.
While there is a lot of information in the MSDS that the general public doesn’t necessarily need or may not be able to understand, there are some parts that are crucial for them to have access to such as the first aid to give in the event of exposure.
Hi Shanda, that ED experience that you shared is a good example of using the MSDS. I was wondering if how were you able to get the information that the person has taken bleach? I mean, I am thinking maybe the person who found the patient relayed the information or was it the patient himself told your team he took a bleach? Very interesting how you give an example of using MSDS not only for employees at the work place but also common people who maybe exposed to various chemicals. MSDS, though has many information that maybe relevant or irrelevant, is really a good tool to understand what first aid or management to give to those who are exposed.
ReplyDeleteWow you guys had some fast thinking! I don't know that I would've gone to the MSDS right away, I would have probably called poison control first. It is good to remember that the MSDS is a good tool to have that can guide the care of accidental (in this case intentional) exposure to a toxin. Thanks for sharing your real-life experience!
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