Chemical Safety Part 3. What is an MSDS?

MSDS Information 1

“Material safety data sheet (MSDS)” means written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical which
is prepared in accordance with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard {29 CFR 1910.1200(g)}.

Chemical manufacturers and importers shall obtain or develop a material safety data sheet for each hazardous
chemical they produce or import.

Employers shall have a material safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use.
They shall be “readily accessible” during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s). (Electronic access, microfiche, and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the material safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options.

MSDS Format
There are basically two formats for MSDS’s, neither of which are mandatory yet (required by regulation).
• OSHA Non-Mandatory MSDS Format (OSHA Form 174).
• ANSI Recommended MSDS Format (ANSI Z400.1-1998)

OSHA FORM 174 – MSDS Format (non-mandatory)
• Section I – Manufacturers Information
• Section II – Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information
• Section III – Physical/Chemical Characteristics
• Section IV – Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
• Section V – Reactivity Data
• Section VI – Health Hazard Data
• Section VII – Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
• Section VIII – Control Measures

ANSI MSDS Format (Recommended in ANSI Z400.1-1998)
• SECTION 1: PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION
• SECTION 2: COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
• SECTION 3: HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
• SECTION 4: FIRST AID MEASURES
• SECTION 5: FIRE-FIGHTING MEASURES
• SECTION 6: ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
• SECTION 7: HANDLING AND STORAGE
• SECTION 8: EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
• SECTION 9: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
• SECTION 10: STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
• SECTION 11: TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• SECTION 12: ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• SECTION 13: DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
• SECTION 14: TRANSPORT INFORMATION
• SECTION 15: REGULATORY INFORMATION
• SECTION 16: OTHER INFORMATION

How do they harm or affect us?

Must be an Exposure
Routes of Exposure Routes of Exposure
Inhalation
Ingestion
Body Contact
Body Absorption
Physical Hazards – body contact via fire, pressure
Health Hazards – all the above

Dose x Exposure = Toxicity (Harm)
Potential for experiencing adverse health effects from Potential for experiencing adverse health effects from
hazardous chemicals is dependent on the amount (dose hazardous chemicals is dependent on the amount (dose
or concentration) we are exposed to over the time we or concentration) we are exposed to over the time we
are exposed to it.

Exposure Limits
Permissible Exposure Limits Permissible Exposure Limits- (PEL’s) (PEL’s)
Recommended Exposure Limits Recommended Exposure Limits– (REL’s)
Threshold Limit Values Threshold Limit Values- (TLV’s) (TLV’s)
Short-Term Exposure Limits Term Exposure Limits- (STEL’s) (STEL’s)
Threshold Limit Value Ceiling Threshold Limit Value Ceiling- (TLV -C)
Exposure Assessment
Contaminant Sampling
Air Monitoring
Medical Surveillance

Hazard Control
Methods, measures, practices, or procedures Methods, measures, practices, or procedures
utilized to remove, prevent, or reduce employee utilized to remove, prevent, or reduce employee
exposure to safety & health hazards and exposure to safety & health hazards and
environmental hazards (i.e., hazardous environmental hazards (i.e., hazardous
chemicals). chemicals).

Hazard Control Measures
Engineering Controls Engineering Controls
Administrative Controls Administrative Controls
Personal Protective Equipment Personal Protective Equipment