Beware of OSHA standards bearing exemptions
There is a good post on Mac’s Safety Space, a sister blog of the OSHA Healthcare Advisor, on why the material safety date sheet (MSDS) exemption for consumer products in the hazard communication standard is not the “get out of jail free” card that you think it is.
Steve MacArthur, who occasionally posts in this space, makes a good case for taking a pass on the exemption and always having an MSDS on hand, “it’s not particularly onerous to do, so why take the risk?”
Check out his best practice approach at “Be wary of MSDS exemption for consumer cleaning products.” And for everything you wanted to know about safety in hospital settings, visit HCPro’s Hospital Safety Center.
If, after reading the post, you still can’t bring yourself to acquire an MSDS for every consumer product or hazardous substance in your facility, download the “Determining When an MSDS Is Necessary” flow chart from the OSHA Healthcare Advisor Tools page.
What about your practice; do you take advantage of the consumer product exemption or not? Let us know in the comment section below.
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David LaHoda
David LaHoda, the managing editor of Medical Environment Update and OSHA Watch, has produced healthcare training videos and consulted for medical practices and ambulatory healthcare facilities.
David has written 196 posts.
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