It is important to note that ingestion of any chemical is not likely to occur in the workplace. Evidence and common sense indicate that inducing vomiting is not necessary in most situations where there has been an occupational chemical ingestion. There is no conclusive evidence that victims of chemical ingestion who do have their stomachs emptied have more successful outcomes than victims who do not. There can be significant risks associated with inducing vomiting especially in emergency situations. There does not seem to be a reliable and safe first aid procedure for inducing vomiting in adults.
Medical attention is usually available quite quickly in most situations.
In light of these arguments, the recommendation to induce vomiting should rarely be made for occupational exposures. In these cases, first aiders should receive special training on how to safely and effectively induce vomiting in the appropriate circumstances. It is a common misperception that antidotes are available for most chemical poisonings. True antidotes are the exception rather than the rule. The universal antidote is a mixture of tannic acid, magnesium oxide and activated charcoal.