A Practical Approach to First Aid Measures in Safety Data Sheets
Written By: Atanu Das on Monday, January 28, 2019
It can be a daunting task to write sufficient first aid measures on a Safety Data Sheet. Generally defined, first aid is the "assessments and interventions that can be performed by a bystander (or by the victim) with minimal or no medical equipment." (Source: American Heart Association)
The information on the SDS must be adequate, specific to the chemical or physical hazard and most of all, understandable by properly trained responders at the scene of the incident. What resources can be used to ensure your SDSs are adequate in this respect? The Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has a published guideline on First Aid Recommendations which can be a great source to begin with.
This guide gives a good recommendation for writers and reviewers of the first aid measures. According to the CCOHS, the SDS should:
- Provide recommendations for each potential route of occupational exposure.
- Present recommendations in the order in which the first-aid measures are to be carried out, taking care of urgent priorities first, as follows:
- Protect the first-aid provider. Specify any special protective equipment and clothing or procedures necessary to protect the first-aid provider, if necessary. For example, if the product is flammable, all sources of ignition should be eliminated if safe to do so. If a toxicity hazard exists, first-aid providers must NOT enter the hazardous area or attempt rescue without putting on appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Reduce or eliminate the source of exposure, either by removing the source of exposure from the person or the person from the source if it is safe to do so.
- Recommend evidence-based, consensus-based, or well-established first-aid procedures.
- Advise obtaining medical advice/attention or calling a Poison Center or doctor, as appropriate.
- Indicate if contaminated clothing, shoes or leather goods can be decontaminated by washing or if they should be discarded. Indicate safe storage procedures for contaminated clothing, when necessary.
- If applicable, provide information on safe disposal of contaminated items in the Disposal Considerations section of the Safety Data Sheet.
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