MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - A USEFUL RESOURCE FOR THE EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN

The large number of hazardous chemicals manufactured, transported, and stored in the United States creates the potential for significant tox ic exposures to workers in industry today. Emergency physicians are li kely to be called on to evaluate many of these exposures when they occ ur in the acute setting. In addition to single-patient exposure, signi ficant potential exists for such exposures in the setting of mass casu alties. Emergency physicians need a source of readily available inform ation regarding chemical hazards that can be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of such exposures. The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is reviewed herein, with special attention given to the sort of infor mation that can be found on the MSDS and how such information may be c linically helpful to emergency physicians. The significant drawbacks a nd limitations of MSDS documents are also reviewed.