Chapter 14

Material safety data sheets

Dental materials contain various chemicals that are potentially hazardous. Manufacturers of chemicals are required legally to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each material that contains a hazardous chemical, as well as label the product. MSDSs outline potential hazards involved when working with these materials. Manufacturers have evaluated the potential risks of the material and use the MSDS to convey this information.

It is the responsibility of the dental team, often the responsibility of the dental nurse, to maintain a comprehensive file of the MSDSs for every material used within the surgery. The file must be easily accessed by the whole dental team and complete with all MSDSs. These files are available from the manufacturer and often exist on the internet.

Labelling hazardous containers and staff training are the key to working safely around hazardous chemicals. Employees must have the education to understand the potential risks involved when working with chemicals, safe handling and what action to take in the event of an emergency. Every time there is a new material introduced into the dental surgery, all staff must be made aware of the composition an/>

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