MSDS and ToxNet

A product that we use very often for cleaning the floors at the restaurant I work at is Pine-Sol. I used two safety data sheets to answer the following questions. One was solely on Pine-Sol. The other was more on pine odor disinfectants as a whole. The former only mentions alcohols as the composition since the exact percentages are a trade secret. The latter lists chemicals such as benzododecinium chloride and benzenemethanaminium chloride as ingredients of pine odor disinfectant.

 What are the health risks associated with this chemical?

 Health risks include irritation of the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. In the event of ingestion, it can cause irritation of the mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

 Is the chemical a carcinogen?

 Both sources report the ingredients of the product not being carcinogenic.

 What personal protective equipment or special precautions should be taken when working with this chemical?

 Protective gloves, clothing, and goggles are the common PPEs to be used. Washing of hands after handling the product is also advised.

 If this is a chemical found in your workplace, what training/education were you given about any risks associated with this chemical?

 We weren't taught about safety precautions to remember when using the Pine-Sol. Since we use it during clean, we always wear rubber gloves when handling any cleaning materials.
Unfortunately, the chemical benzododecinium chloride did not appear in the ToxNet database. Its absence is noteworthy, and could mean that little to no studies have been done on it. I think that the MSDS are great tools to help workers develop a better understanding of the potential risks of any product they may work with. They can also take the necessary steps to protect themselves when they handle it. It is also on the companies to make it a point to inform all their workers about the products they use and how to protect themselves while using them.

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 4, 2018 at 6:48 PM

    I agree that this chemical can cause various forms of irritation. I thought this would have been a carcinogen because of all the dangers it carries. It's so sad that you weren't provided any formal training when it comes to using this specific product. I think this chemical is a hazard and training should be performed, even if it is just to discuss how to apply PPE appropriately.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownNovember 5, 2018 at 6:05 PM

    Something interesting to note is that most of these products are thought to be innocuous. I think this mostly has to do with messaging and the things we see in media about products we should use in our homes.

    ReplyDelete

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