CRCST · Departmental Considerations · 7 min read
Chemical Safety, Safety Data Sheets and Eyewash Stations
- Explain the regulatory framework of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, the Globally Harmonized System, and the standardized 16-section Safety Data Sheet format.
- Describe safe chemical handling, labeling, dilution, and spill-response practices across sterile processing environments according to manufacturer instructions and facility policy.
- Identify the design specifications, operational requirements, testing intervals, and emergency protocols associated with emergency eyewash stations.
Hazard Communication and the Structure of Safety Data Sheets
Sterile processing technicians play an essential role in the healthcare environment, supporting infection prevention during the cleaning, decontamination, inspection, assembly, packaging, sterilization, and storage of surgical instruments. Throughout these critical stages, technicians frequently encounter robust chemical agents formulated to break down bioburden and destroy microorganisms. To safeguard workers handling these hazardous substances, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforces the Hazard Communication Standard. This standard is commonly referred to as the Employee Right to Know standard, establishing an employer's obligation to inform staff about the specific chemical hazards present in their workspace. To ensure these hazards are communicated consistently across industries and borders, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals provides an international, standardized framework for chemical classification and hazard identification.
A cornerstone of this framework was the transition under OSHA's GHS-aligned Hazard Communication Standard wherein Safety Data Sheets replaced the older Material Safety Data Sheets. Every standardized Safety Data Sheet is structured into exactly 16 designated sections arranged in a uniform sequence. This standardized arrangement ensures that a technician seeking crucial handling details does not have to search through disorganized paperwork during an urgent task or emergency. Facilities must maintain a current inventory list of all hazardous chemicals present on site, updating it regularly. Furthermore, Safety Data Sheets must remain readily accessible to sterile processing technicians during all working shifts, ensuring that life-saving data is always within reach.
Technicians must consult the chemical Safety Data Sheet before handling unfamiliar cleaning or disinfecting agents. Each of the 16 sections serves a precise informational purpose. For example, Section 1 identifies the chemical product, its manufacturer, and recommended uses; technicians must also follow the chemical and medical device manufacturers’ instructions for use to determine whether the solution is appropriate for a specific reprocessing task. Section 2 outlines hazard identification, detailing GHS hazard classifications, hazard statements, and visual pictograms. When unplanned incidents occur, Section 4 describes essential first-aid measures required after chemical exposure, while Section 6 provides accidental release measures, detailing spill containment and cleanup instructions. Finally, Section 8 specifies permissible exposure limits, engineering controls, and recommended personal protective equipment, helping technicians select appropriate barriers before handling the agent.
| SDS Section Number | Section Title | Core Information Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | Identification | Identifies the chemical product, its manufacturer, and recommended uses. |
| Section 2 | Hazard Identification | Outlines chemical hazards, GHS classifications, hazard statements, and pictograms. |
| Section 4 | First-Aid Measures | Describes essential initial first-aid actions required after chemical exposure. |
| Section 6 | Accidental Release Measures | Details spill containment protocols, cleanup instructions, and materials. |
| Section 8 | Exposure Controls/Personal Protection | Specifies permissible exposure limits, engineering controls, and recommended PPE. |
Common mistakes
- Reversing the dilution sequence by pouring water directly into concentrated chemical solutions, which can trigger dangerous splashing, rather than adding concentrate to water as instructed by the manufacturer.
- Assuming secondary containers never require labels, forgetting that secondary chemical containers must always be labeled with the chemical identity and hazard warnings unless used immediately by the person who dispensed it.
- Delaying eye flushing to search for contact lens removal supplies, rather than beginning irrigation immediately and removing easily accessible lenses during the active flush.
- Attempting to manage large, unknown, or unmanageable chemical spills without authorization, rather than leaving the area, warning others, and notifying a supervisor and designated emergency responders.
Key points
- The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, known as the Employee Right to Know standard, aligns with the Globally Harmonized System and requires accessible 16-section Safety Data Sheets and regular updates to the facility's hazardous chemical inventory.
- GHS labels feature red-bordered diamond pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements, and two standardized signal words: Danger (more severe) and Warning (less severe).
- Secondary chemical containers require chemical identity and hazard warning labels unless they are used immediately by the individual who dispensed the product.
- Safe chemical preparation requires consulting the SDS, following manufacturer IFU for dilution and water temperature, keeping containers closed, and never mixing incompatible chemicals such as bleach and ammonia.
- Technicians must verify the minimum effective concentration of high-level disinfectants and liquid chemical sterilants before each use, wearing required decontamination PPE in negative-pressure environments.
- ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 calls for emergency eyewashes to be accessible within 10 seconds via an unobstructed path, or immediately adjacent to highly corrosive hazards; they must activate in one second or less, operate hands-free, supply tepid fluid (60°F to 100°F), and flush continuously for at least 15 minutes.
- Plumbed eyewash stations must be activated weekly, with checks documented according to facility policy; chemical exposures require immediate flushing, prompt reporting to a supervisor, and documentation according to facility policy.
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