Question

There are numerous cleaning products for use in the health care world and for home use. Choose one cleaning product that you may use at work or that you use at home. Using MSDS/SDS, provide information on your product on the following sections: 1 - Section 1 - Identification. What is the product you chose? 2 - Section 4 - First Aid 3- Section 8 - PPE needed After answering these questions, if you chose a product you use at work, do you feel that this product is safe for for use in your work environment? Does your facility provide adequate training, PPE etc for using this product? What about about a product you have at home? Discuss how these products may be mis-used or become a danger. For example, the laundry detergent that come in pods; there are several ads out there showing where children can grab them and put them in their mouths. Should commercials outline the possible dangers when advertising these products for use at home or in the health care

Answer 1

Everyone expects to keep their environment clean. Especially in healthcare world cleanliness is very essential to keep high standards of hygiene which is for prevention of nosocomial infection . Cleaning agents , sprays , disinfectant liquids are used maintain cleanliness. These agents are a threat to air quality as they let out toxic fumes . Daily patients and healthcare workers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals(cleaning agents) in hospitals and health care facilities. Many of these cleaning agents have been found to leave a lasting negative impact on individual & public health, and the environment.

Formaldehyde:

Formaldehyde is a flammable colorless gas having strong pungent odor. This is used in healthcare facilities as disinfectant. FAH is available in liquid form called Formalin

Odor of formaldehyde can be easily detected.This disinfectant causes irritation of the eyes & watering eyes , nasal irritation.This is used in disinfecting operation theatres, dialysis units and for preserving tissues in autopsy rooms.

Regular exposure to formaldehyde may lead to inflammation of lungs, pulmonary edema even demise.

The MSDS(material safety data sheets) should be provided to the workers by the manufacturer of this agent and it should contain comprehensive information on the adverse health effects, fire and explosion hazards, and safety precautions.

An apron, heavy-duty waterproof gloves, respirator masks, face shields ,boots and splash-proof safety goggles are used by the employees to protect themselves during disinfecting with formaldehyde. There is so appropriate safe level for exposure to formaldehyde. Healthcare workers who comes in contact with this disinfectant agent should be monitored for respiratory and eye problems and should be treated accordingly.

Thus this disinfectant eventhough destroys the bacteria and spores , this causes adverse effects on humans and animals. Proper safety precautions are necessary .