Pioneer Times

Many of our customers have been recently requesting Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and have been asking "What exactly are they for and why do I have to provide them?"

A Material Safety Data Sheet is a manufacturers description of a product's hazards and precautionary actions. The purpose of a MSDS is to describe the composition and in some cases the potential hazards of a chemical and to provide information on how it can be safely handled, used and stored.

MSDSs are mandated under the OSHA hazard Communication Standard for all hazardous materials. In the past, the MSDS was written for health and safety professionals and for trained workers employed by chemical companies and their customers. The expansion of federal and state right-to-know regulations has broadened this audience to include fire fighters, emergency responders, state and local emergency planning groups, and members of the community. Because of this broadened audience the information on a MSDS is now presented in a more consistent and understandable form.

There are two parts to the standard: format and guidance. The format includes the section headings and the order in which they are to appear in the MSDS. The sections are organized around four questions:

1) What the material is and what I need to know immediately in an emergency.
2) What should I do if a hazardous situation occurs?
3) How can I prevent hazardous situations from occurring.
4) Is there any other useful information about this material?

The MSDS gives employers and workers detailed information about the potential hazards of specific materials and how to control them. MSDSs should be available to workers in the area where each hazardous material is used. Each MSDS should tell you the following:

1) The common name and the chemical name of the material.
2) The name, address, and phone number of the manufacturer or distributor.
3) Emergency numbers to get immediate information on specific hazards.
4) The date written or last revised.
5) Any hazardous ingredient in the chemical.
6) Information about the chemical's hazards, if the material is not a trade secret.
7) Physical information that will help you identify the chemical and how it behaves.
8) Fire and explosion information i.e. the material's flash point, auto-ignition temperature and upper and lower flammability limits. Material to use to put out fires involving this chemical. Special fire fighting techniques, equipment and any unusaul fire or explosion hazards.
9) Dangers from chemical reactions with this material, whether the chemical itself is stable or unstable. Conditions and exposure to other materials which can cause reactions with this chemical and dangerous substances that can be produced as a result of any of these circumstances.
10) Measures to control the chemical's hazards. Engineering controls, personal protective equipment, safe storage of the chemical and safe handling practices.
11) Information about the chemical's health hazards including safe exposure limits, such as the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and the Threshold Limit Value (TLV). Accute and chronic symptoms of exposure. The chemical's main routes of entry into the body, medical conditions that can be made worse by exposure and whether the chemical can cause cancer. Emergency and first-aid treatments.
12) How to deal with spills, and leaks, clean up techniques, and to be aware of any personal protective equipment to be used during clean up and how to dispose of waste materials.

The information on the MSDS can help you make your workplace safe and free from any possible or potential hazards. You should know where the MSDS for every chemical in your work area is kept. You should be familiar with the most important points and precautions for each material you use. Check the MSDS whenever you need more information and know where to find emergency response information on your company's MSDS quickly. Follow the safety practices the MSDS gives you.

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