subject: Effective Msds Authoring [print this page] One of the most important tasks as it pertains to SAP EHS product safety is MSDS authoring (Material Safety Data Sheet authoring). The overall content is basically the same, regardless of whether it is called SDS or MSDS, (one is USA based, and the other is based in Germany). Before planning to create a material safety data sheet, it is important to first identify the most important goals and expectations. In addition, decide the most efficient template to be created and which information should be included.
There is a plethora of useful and practical data loading tools available in order to load information such as Regulatory Content, Dangerous Goods Content, Phrases etc. In addition to these standard data tools there are is also a great deal of information on expert rules for creating a MSDS. Although creating a simple template suited to a variety of country requirements may be very difficult, it is usually a more efficient idea to create templates for different countries rather than using the same template with different output options. There are many options available in order to help companies create templates for MSDSs, such as outsourcing to other companies as well as purchasing up to date and reputable software. It is important to properly research all aspects before performing any tasks pertaining to the creation of material safety data sheets or their templates, as incorrect information can have serious consequences.
Not only is it common practice, but also ANSI standard states that there must be sixteen in an MSDS which cover all aspects of a chemical. This includes company information, hazard communication, what to do when in need of first aide, safety equipment and accidental release measures, etc. One of the regular business standards is to use service providers for contents as it helps to ease the burden of identifying regulatory information initially. In addition, it is important to have a dedicated regulatory expert in order to properly meet and adhere to the compliance requirements. Also, it is important to properly follow automated rule based MSDS authoring rather than manually entering the data, and when MSDS authoring make sure to develop in-house resources for creating templates or MSDS authoring templates rather than outsourcing 100% as it will offer better long term returns. Finally, it is important to streamline and document the template creation process.
The standard method of MSDS authoring or generating Material Safety Data Sheet in SAP is by employing WWI or Windows Wordprocess Integration. Here the system communicates with SAP using RFC technology through the wordprocesser and dispatcher technique. In order to use Windows Wordpress Integration to create a template for MSDS authoring, adequate training and practice is required.
Since the vast majority of chemical companies are not up to date on current policies and regulations, it is recommended that organizations find a proper software and do the appropriate research before starting any new tasks. Doing so will be more efficient, cost effective and give executives peace of mind knowing that any major problems will have been avoided.
