By: Zakeyah Alsharif
Safety data sheets SDSs which is formerly was called material safety data sheets MSDSs provide the needed information about all of the chemical products that are used in a workplace such as CSSD. Those documents illustrate the potential hazard that are associated with the chemicals such as health, fire, reactivity, and environmental. By reading the SDS, you will know what is the physical and chemical properties of the product. Besides, you will find the safety precautions for handling, sorting, and transportation of it.
In CSSD, the staff are dealing with different chemicals daily like ethylene oxide EO which means accident may occur at any time. Regarding of the safety plan of a hospital, here is a quick review of where you need to look up in case if a chemical hazard happen.
In general, SDS contain 16 sections that are required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA. During the hazard, the important information will be between section one and section eight. In the first section, the identification information of the product will be given as well as the contact information of the manufacturer. In addition, most of the possible hazard of the chemical will be identified in section two. In the third section, you will recognize what are the components of the material.
Moreover, in case of an exposure, directly skip to section four because the needed first aid recommendation will be there. You will find a description of the initial care that can be given by any individual to the person who has been exposed to the chemical. Plus, you will find some symptoms and effect of the chemical.
Furthermore, supposing a fire initiated by the chemical, section five will state the best way to control it. For instance, it will recommend the suitable extinguishing equipment. Section six will provide the proper way to handle the chemical in case of spillage or leakage. The seventh section of the SDS will give the best way to handle and store the chemical. Finally, the personal protection and the exposure control of the chemical will be described in section eight.
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References:
Ref1
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/legisl/msdss.html
ref2
Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheetshttps://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3514.pdf