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“my mission, is to educate nurses products in most practices
on a safer and more environmentally can be made safer, as long
friendly workplace. as you carefully follow the
Having spent the last 20 years in manufacturer’s instructions –
the chemical manufacturing industry, especially when it comes to the
Jurgen says there are two things you amount of chemicals you should
must remember when working with be using.
any chemical substances, “always “People often use more
read the label” and “always read the product than is actually required
– especially if an area is heavily
label!”
ALWAYS READ hazards become the norm, Jurgen soiled. Adding more won’t
As with any industry where safety
necessarily make the working
says that it’s easy for staff and
area or device any cleaner. It
could, in fact, have the opposite
practitioners to get laxed around
THE LABEL reading the labels and MSDS effect – and even damage expensive questions you might have about the
Bio Hygiene can answer any
(Material Safety Data Sheets), but
equipment.”
he stresses that “you have to allow
So, with safer options available to
products you are currently using
replace existing hazardous chemicals
and tell you if they are safe and
yourself some time to read exactly
what is in the chemicals you use
every day.” and smarter solutions available for environmentally friendly.
After all; it’s your health on the line
chemical applications inside the
When you look at the next bottle
ARE THE CHEMICALS YOU USE EVERY DAY, of cleaning product, pay particular surgery; why are dental and medical – and you shouldn’t have to clean like
practices still using out-dated
it’s 1999.
attention to any warnings or pictograms. chemicals? If you have any questions regarding
SAFE FOR EVERYDAY USE? For example, some chemicals used to Kuhfess believes that no one your current products, or if you’re
clean suction lines features a dead fish should expose themselves to needless interested in making the switch to the
next to a dead tree; which is the GHS hazardous poisons, dental and Bio Hygiene range of cleaners and
(Global Harmonised System) pictogram medical staff are becoming much disinfectants; go to
hat were you doing in Medicine and Occupational Lung name for glutaraldehyde) was banned (GHS09) this means ‘significant damage more aware of the safer options http://www.biohygiene.com.au or
2
May 1999? Disease Unit, published a paper titled from U.K. hospitals. to aquatic life.’ If you spot this on any out there; but some dental chair email; info@biohygiene.com.au
W Tables everywhere were ‘Glutaraldehyde: an occupational Jurgen Kuhefuss from Bio Hygiene products you use in your practice, then manufacturers are still forcing dental
ablaze with debate, as Australians hazard in the hospital setting.’ hopes to change the way these this means that you’re using a product practitioners to use specific (and often 1 Di Stefano F., Siriruttanapruk S., McCoach
all discussed the coming republican Their report indicated “the products are used in dental and classed as a marine pollutant. These out-dated) cleaners. J. & Sherwood Burge P. Glutaraldehyde: an
referendum. “No Scrubs” by TLC sat importance of glutaraldehyde as an medical practices around Australia. products must be stored in a well- “Hundreds of chair brands are occupational hazard in the hospital setting. 27
at #1 in the ARIA charts for the whole occupational hazard in the hospital Jurgen and his team at Bio Hygiene ventilated area not just placed in the sold in Australia and most of them May 1999. ISSN 0105-4538
month, and Star Wars: The Phantom setting” and stressed, “…use of have worked hard to create a safer cupboard or under the sink. can be cleaned and maintained with 2 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1775534.
Menace had just hit theatres. extraction fans, respiratory protection, alternative, with their infection control All dental and medical staff should any product that’s up to Australian stm. Withdrawal of disinfectant hit by safety
While all of this was happening and training of personnel handling this range of cleaners and disinfectants. be aware of products containing standards. However, there are a fears. Tuesday, 22 January 2002
in Australia, four researchers in the chemical should be the first steps of Jurgen wants the whole dental and Phenols, which have been linked to an couple of brands out there who will 3 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/24/us/a-
3
1
U.K., at the Birmingham Heartlands any prevention strategy.” medical industry to get smarter and effect on babies while in utero. void your warranty if you don’t use study-finds-link-between-birth-defects-and-
Hospital’s Department of Respiratory By May 2002, Cidex (the brand safer around all cleaning chemicals, Jurgen says that many existing their specific, pre-approved brands.” solvents.html

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