Material Safety Data Sheets

The MSDS

29 CFR 1910.1200

Right to Know

You, the employee, have a right to know about the hazardous

chemicals you use on the job and how to work safely with

those chemicals.

The MSDS

Chemical manufacturers must determine a chemical’s hazards

and provide an MSDS.

The MSDS

Employers must: Make the MSDS available; Train employees on hazards of the

chemical; Train employees on how to protect

themselves.

The MSDS

Employees must: Read the MSDS; Be able to identify the hazards; Understand how to work safely

with the chemical.

MSDS Confusion

There is no standardized format for MSDS’s.

Where are Your MSDS’s

Binders, or Computer systems, or Both

?

Sections of an MSDS (No set order)

1. Product and Company Identification2. Composition/Information on Ingredients3. Hazards Identification4. First Aid Measures5. Fire Fighting Measures6. Accidental Release Measures7. Handling and Storage8. Exposure Control/Personal Protection9. Physical and Chemical Properties10. Stability and Reactivity11. Toxicological information12. Ecological Information13. Disposal Considerations14. Transport Information15. Regulatory Information16. Other Information

Product and Company IdentificationManufacturer’s name, address,

phone numberEmergency phone number Date of MSDS Name of the chemicalTrade names and synonyms

Composition/Ingredients

Hazardous Ingredients Exposure limits of hazardous ingredients Hazardous chemical names Percentage of chemical in the product Nonhazardous ingredients Trade secrets Exposure Limits PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit)

STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit) TLV (Threshold Limit Value)

Hazards Identification

Emergency overview Routes of entry (eye, skin, inhalation, ingestion) Signs and symptoms of exposure Single, repeated or lifetime exposure Mild, moderate or severe exposure Acute or chronic effects Target organs Medical conditions that may be aggravated by exposure Carcinogenicity Potential environmental effects

First Aid Measures

First aid treatment by route of entry to body

Immediate medical attention needed

Any delayed effectsSpecial instructions to physicians

Fire and Explosion Data

FlashpointFlammability limits in airAutoignition temperature Hazardous combustion products Extinguishing media to use and to avoidFirefighting protective equipment and

instructionsUnusual fire and explosion hazards

Accidental Release MeasuresContainment in spillsSpill or leak clean upEvacuation proceduresSpecial instructionsAny reporting required for spills

Handling and Storage

Storage requirements Dispensing requirements Handling requirements

Personal ProtectionEngineering controls (ventilation…)PPE needed for various routes of entryPPE needed in emergencies (spills,

explosions)Personal hygiene/work practicesPPE during repair/maintenance of equipmentOther special PPE considerations

Physical and Chemical Properties Physical appearance Odor Liquid, solid or gas Boiling point, melting point, freezing point Specific gravity Soluble in water pH Vapor Density

Stability and Reactivity

Incompatibility with what materialsHazardous products produced

during decompositionStable or notConditions to avoid

Special Sections

Sections 1-10 are required on all MSDS’s

Sections 11-16 are not required by OSHA

Most MSDS’s have all 16 sectionsSome have 11-16 left blank

Toxicological Information

Toxicity dataCarcinogenicityNeurological effectsGenetic effectsReproductive effects

Ecological Information

Environmental hazard statements

Disposal Considerations

Any regulations pertaining to disposal

Physical/chemical properties affecting disposal

State or local requirements that may apply

Transport Information

Regulated during shippingProper shipping name/placard

numberHazard classDoes quantity being shipped

change requirements

Regulatory Information

Federal regulations (OSHA, FDA, USDA, DEA)

State regulationsInternational considerations

www.osha.gov

www.fda.gov

www.usda.gov

Other Information

Special label text Hazard rating systems Special considerations not otherwise mentioned NFPA and HMIS Information

1. Health = Blue 2. Flammability = Red 3. Reactivity = Yellow 4. Other hazards or special handling = WhiteScale= 0 (no hazard) to 4 (extreme hazard)

SummaryMSDS is the foundation of chemical safety 24-hour access Symptoms of exposure First aid Storage Handling Personal protective equipment