subject: Material Safety Data Sheets Make For A Safe Workplace [print this page] Forms that contains data and safety precautions about substances are called material safety data sheets. They are also known as MSDSs. Commonly most people don't see an MSDS, they are usually only used by employees and emergency workers who come in contact with the substances. The sheets contain information about chemical properties, environmental hazards, and disposal instructions, usually broken down into easy to read sections.
These sheets are not written for consumers, but rather the people who work with the substances in occupational quantities. It is important for employers to make these sheets available to their employees. If a member of the general public wants to read an MSDS they can usually obtain them on the internet or at a local university.
In the United States the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, mandated the use of MSDS for hazardous materials in 1986. Regulations in other countries are very similar to those put in place by OSHA, but they can vary, so be sure to check in the country you are in.
An MSDS is required unless any amount of the substance can be proven to be harmless. This applies to very few substances, so most chemicals have an MSDS. An MSDS is only required for materials that are hazardous by OSHA's standards and are also known to be present in the workplace in such a way that employees may be exposed to it under normal circumstances or a foreseeable emergency.
There are certain things that are not regulated by MSDS rules. Any article that is made in a specific design for a specific purpose and doesn't release a hazardous chemical when used normally does not need a data sheet. Food and drink do not normally fall under OSHA standards either. Cosmetics packaged for consumers as well as drugs and pharmaceuticals are usually exempt as well. Wood, lumber and tobacco are not regulated by data sheets either.
For easier reading and understanding, an MSDS is usually split into 16 sections. The American National Standards Institute set the following sections:
Section one includes the chemical name and the company information.
Section. 2. Composition/Information on Ingredients
3. The identification of possible hazards.
Section. 4. First Aid Measures
Section. 5. Fire Fighting Measures
Section. 6. Accidental Release Measures
Section seven gives handling and storage instructions.
8. How to control exposure to the substance and how to protect yourself while using the substance.
Section. 9. Physical and Chemical Properties
Section. 10. Stability and Reactivity
Section. 11. Toxicological Information
12. The ecological impact of the chemical.
Section thirteen outlines disposal information.
Section. 14. Transport Information
Section. 15. Regulatory Information
16. Miscellaneous information not covered in other sections.
The best way to work with any chemical is to do so safely. The material safety data sheets help employees learn to handle materials safely.
