Chemicals And Poisons Flashcards
Why do pharmacists have to know about poisons
Because, historically, the retail sale of chemicals was a role for pharmacists. It isn’t so much any more
If someone requests a non medicinal chemical what do we have to check with ourselves before any supply is made
Why do they want it Who is requesting it How much is being requested Is the pharmacy the best place for it Are there alternatives Is there any suspicious circumstances surrounding the request
What does the chemical classification system tell you
How likely a chemical is to cause harm
Which system do we use to classify chemicals
CLP - classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
Adopts the UNs Globally Harmonised System of classification of chemicals through the EU. Came into effect in Jan 2009
What are the categories of danger
Physicochemical properties (explosive, flammable, oxidising etc) Health effects (toxic, harmful, corrosive, irritants, mutagenic) Environmental effects
Which chemicals are covered by the CLP
Most industrial chemicals
Clp does not apply to chemicals which are covered by other regulations and are in the finished state intended for the final user;
Medicines, vet meds, cosmetics, food, feeding stuffs
Do pharmacists have to concern themselves with the correct labellingnof chemicals
No, this will have been dealt with upstream by manufacturers
What are the CLP labelling requirements if you were to supply a dangerous chemical
The label must tell anyone handling the package or using the chemicals about its hazards
Give brief advice on what precautions are needed
What must be present on the physical label of a chemical
It must be firmly affixed, indelible and placed so it may be read horizontally
It requires particulars for a substance or mixture
A. Name address, phone number of supplier (inc pharmacist)
B. Name of substance and nominal quantity
C. Product identifiers
D. Where applicable - hazard pictograms, signal words (warning, danger), hazard statements, precautionary statements, supplemental information
What are the requirements around the packaging of dangerous chemicals
Prevents the chemical from spilling
Not be adversely affected by the chemical
Be strong enough to withstand normal handling
If supplied to the general public: child resistant fastenings, tactile warnings of danger
Whats the link between chemicals and chiropodists
Chiropodists use many chemicals in their practice: Liquid phenol Pyrogallol Monkchloroacetic acid Salicylic acid
These don’t fall within the definition of a medicinal product (as they work entirely chemically)
If they’re placed on the market within medicinal claims
They must be regulated as medical devices and marked with CE
Who regulates chiropodists
Health and care professions council
What are non medicinal poisons
Substances which are assigned as poisons but used as medicinal products (arsenic, strychnine)
These are controlled as the poisons act 1972
There are 4 lists covered in the deregulation act 2015 What are they?
- Regulated explosive precursors
- Regulated poisons
- Reportable explosive precursors
- Reportable poisons
1 and 2 are the most dangerous and are called regulated substances
3 and 4 are called reporyable substances
How can home users get hold of regulated substances?
They need a home office EPP licence to purchase (only valid for 3 years)
Need to present licence and id when purchasing
It is an offence to use or possess these chemicals without these licences
