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#1 Posted : 14 November 2006 13:45:00(UTC)
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Posted By dangermouse
May I beg to pick the best safety brains in the country?? (flattery does it work? new post?)
Do veterinary medicines require a MSDS? I am trying to risk assess for COSHH and none of my farmers seem to have seen a MSDS, they have usage sheets which deal with animal health but not human health...an replies gratefully accepted
jac
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#2 Posted : 14 November 2006 14:48:00(UTC)
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Posted By Edward Shyer
Try this link may be helpful


http://www.provet.co.uk/Vets/information.asp

Regards

Ted
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#3 Posted : 14 November 2006 15:04:00(UTC)
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Posted By J Knight
How COSHH works with human drugs is it only applies where the medication could affect the person administering the medication, so powders, topical creams and cytotoxics (which are very toxic and absorbed through the skin) need COSHH assessments. I would assume the same applies to animals,

John
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#4 Posted : 14 November 2006 15:11:00(UTC)
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Posted By May
Hi
I'm currently updating the COSHH data sheets for my organisation as well. I hv just been in this position for 7 mths so my questions may sound silly to you guys!
1) Can I dispose of the old data sheets for chemicals that are not being used on site anymore?
2) Do I hv to keep record of all these obsolete documents? Thanks
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#5 Posted : 14 November 2006 15:19:00(UTC)
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Posted By Descarte
In my experience with animal drugs such as those used for cattle and poultry which can be administered in powdered form into food stuffs they can be very bad sensitisers (with known human cases).

Do the medicines when packaged carry any CHIP labelling or warnings?

How are the medicines administered? IV, in feed powdered or pelletised, liquid forms, supplements etc?

Is there a risk of exposure, is there a subsequent health risk.

I presume your concern comes from you seeing the hazards on the MSDS
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#6 Posted : 14 November 2006 15:21:00(UTC)
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Posted By Edward Shyer
Hi May

If they are only MSDS sheets for substances no longer use then I would say yes you can dispose of them. However you would need to keep copies of the COSHH assessments after the substance is no longer used. I would normally keep these for four years after the substance ceases to be used before disposing of them.

Regards
Ted
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#7 Posted : 14 November 2006 15:32:00(UTC)
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Posted By dangermouse
Descarte thx, I havent seen ANY MSDS as I recognise them for other chemicals the medicines usually come with a usage sheet explaining about the health risks to the animal but rarely a mention to human health for staff administering the drug. Some of these drugs are de stressors like animal valium and it is not uncommon for accidents, i was expecting a catagory like 'toxic' or similar but see nothing or emergency precautions like wash eyes with water... I thought all 'chemicals' would have a safety data sheet?? please keep replying!
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#8 Posted : 14 November 2006 15:57:00(UTC)
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Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
I'm really only thinking out loud, but as there is a duty to keep EL insurance details for a period of some 40 years, could one argue that in certain circumstances MSDS could be of use in terms of any future potential claim; it would be far easier to mount a defence if a significant amount of information were available, although I admit the burden on employers is quite enough having to retain for the Revenue/C&E/ENIC/ for periods of years; as I said, just thinking out loud.

CFT
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#9 Posted : 14 November 2006 16:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Robin B
Hi
I work for an Animal Health Pharmaceutical Manufacturer and have prepared an MSDS for every product we make and these are available through our reps and through the HQ.

Robin
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#10 Posted : 14 November 2006 16:15:00(UTC)
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Posted By Keith Archer.
Charley,

As you say there are circumstances that require records to be kept for quite a number of years One of these is the exposure to certain substances require medical records to be kept for 40 years.

In this instance I would archive the COSHH assessments for these substances but as far as the MSDS sheets then I would dispose of these when they are no longer valid.

Dangermouse,

You could contact the suppliers and request the MSDS information which could be used to form part of your COSHH assessment.

Not sure about the leaflets that come with the products you use, are they information leaflets simular to the patient information sheets suplied with medicines provided for humans.

Hope this helps

Keith
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#11 Posted : 14 November 2006 16:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By Darren J Fraser
Before disposing of the MSDS or any other record for that matter, they can be scanned into a PC and then saved to a CD, thereby keeping the information whilst at the same time reducing the amount of space used for storage. When needed the information can be printed off accordingly.
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#12 Posted : 15 November 2006 10:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Grace
Regarding the Response that mentioned retention. I agree with Response that drew attention to the statutory retention period for EL Certificates. If an occupational disease claim were to occur in the future your EL insurers would hope to be able to access all relevant documentation from the period(s) when exposure is alleged to have occurred. This would include MSDS, your own CoSHH assessment, details of LEV inspections, details of selection, issue, and training in use of PPE/RPE that may have been given to employees etc etc.
You should remember that the ability of your insurer to mount a defence is solely reliant on you being able to supply documentation. No document, no defence!
Since occupational ill health/disease can occur at any time in the future retention is vital - even if it is for 30/40 years! Scanning sounds a good plan.
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#13 Posted : 15 November 2006 11:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By Descarte
Presumably the medcines you use will show what the active ingredients are. Also even a quick net search of the product and or supplier / brand name may turn up the MSDS sheets you require:

http://www.lincomix.com/PAHimages/msds_us/LM.pdf
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