CHEMpendium™ helping people save lives through fast information access

The Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) on our CHEMpendium collection helped this company save a person's life:

A new employee used the wrong glassware for a substance, which exploded and caused breathing problems for the worker. A co-worker alerts the company Safety Officer, who has a copy of the CCOHS CHEMpendium CD-ROM. Under the HSDB, the officer locates information about acute toxic effects resulting from exposure of skin to the substance. These include breathing difficulties and rapid heart rate, leading to potentially fatal consequences. The worker is rushed to the hospital and placed in ICU, where she eventually recovers. This co-worker believing that "safety is everybody's business" accessed the potential toxicity concerns of a substance using the CHEMpendium CD-ROM which took them literally a moment or two. It's a convenient and reliable method of verifying potential hazards and determining correct handling procedures – one that can be used at any time.

CCOHS, 250 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8N 1H6. Tel: 905-570-8094; Fax: 905-572-2206.