subject: MSDS- a Sincere Move towards a Securer World [print this page] MSDS- a Sincere Move towards a Securer World
MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheets represents a determined global effort towards bringing forth a more secure world. The concept of MSDS is to first of all classify all the hazardous chemicals and then label them. The intention is to ensure that there is a total awareness among all levels of people who are working with hazardous chemicals whether in their production or their testing, their storage, transportation, handling in any way and even their demolition. This concept is a very old one and actually you can take it back in time by 4000 years when the Egyptian chemists were noting down every aspect of their prescription. They would note the materials that were the composition of the prescription as well as their sources. The manner in which the prescription was prepared was noted as well as the way in which it was to be served, consumed and applied. Even the precautions were detailed.
MSDS is meant to usher in a safer world. Under this program, every hazardous chemical would have to be detailed in the MSDS that is associated with it. MSDS preparation is mandatory for the manufacturer and the distributor who must ensure that these sheets are distributed to all who are authorized to receive them. Similarly, importers must either obtain or develop these sheets and each employer must ensure that there is a MSDS for each hazardous chemical with them. While there is no rigid format prescribed for MSDS there are regulatory bodies such as OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that have developed a format that is non-mandatory in nature. The MSDS must list some details such as the name of chemical, details of manufacturer and supplier and various ingredients that are used in the chemical. Some essential data such as vapor pressure and odor, boiling point and the extent to which the chemical reacts are required to be specified. Also required to be detailed are the method of controlling fire and explosions as well as the safety gear that would be necessary. There are agencies that provide MSDS services such as MSDS authoring, label compliance, regulatory consulting, technical translations and government submissions.
