M10.2- MSDS and ToxNet

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I don’t work in an environment where I may be exposed to chemicals, but my mom is a pharmacy technician and she was able to obtain a safety data sheet for Benzoin Tincture. Benzoin Tincture is a brown topical protectant liquid that comes in a bottle and it used for minor skin sores and wounds to protect the area from irritation and infection.
  • What are the health risks associated with this chemical?
    • Inhalation: May cause respiratory irritation and CNS effects such as headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and unconsciousness.
    • Skin contact: skin irritation
    • Eye contact: serious eye irritation
    • Ingestion: May be harmful if swallowed
  • Is the chemical a carcinogen?
    • No
  • What personal protective equipment or special precautions should be taken when working with this chemical?
    • According to the data sheet, no special measures are required
  • If this is a chemical found in your workplace, what training/education were you given about any risks associated with this chemical?
    • This chemical is not found in my workplace, and I’m not sure what training the pharmacy receives.
I did not find any discrepancies in ToxNet, and was happy to confirm its very low toxicity rating, as it is used to treat wounds. Regarding the MSDS, I don’t think this is an adequate tool for a worker who may read at a remedial level. I have a very basic understanding of chemistry and pharmaceutical materials and I had to read over it a few times to understand it. I know many employees who work in hospitals or healthcare settings do not speak English as their first language, and I’m concerned they do not really know what chemicals they’re being exposed to or if they’re using the right protection/methods of disposal.

Comments

  1. AmyM.November 14, 2018 at 5:56 PM

    You brought up a good point about the readability of medical documents. The MSDS should be written in a 3rd or 4th grade level such that even a 3rd or 4th grade can read it and understand what to do. It's definitely an area that need a lot of work on since so many medical documents are written in such a language that even people with college or graduate education can't fully understand the content.

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