Material Safety Data Sheet
and Label Preparation
WAC 296-839-500
Definitions
The following definitions apply to this chapter:
Article (manufactured item)
� A manufactured item that:
- Isn’t a fluid or particle
AND
- Is formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture for a
particular end use function
AND
Deï¬nitions
- Releases only trace amounts of a hazardous chemical during normal
use and doesn’t pose a physical or health risk to employees.
Chemical
� An element or mixture of elements
OR
� A compound or mixture of compounds
OR
� A mixture of elements and compounds
Included are manufactured items (such as bricks, welding rods and sheet
metal) that aren’t exempt as an article.
Chemical name
� The scientific designation of a chemical developed by the
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
OR
- Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) rules of nomenclature
OR
� A name that clearly identifies the chemical for the purpose of conducting
a hazard evaluation.
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Combustible liquid
Liquids with a flashpoint of at least 100°F (37.8°C) and below 200°F (93.3°C).
A mixture with at least 99% of its components having flashpoints of 200°F
(93.3°C), or higher, isn’t considered a combustible liquid.
Commercial account
An arrangement where a retailer is selling hazardous chemicals to an employer
� Generally in large quantities over time
Deï¬nitions
OR
� At costs below regular retail price.
Common name
Any designation or identification used to identify a chemical other than the
chemical name, such as a
� Code name or number
OR
� Trade or brand name
OR
� Generic name.
Compressed gas
� A contained gas or mixture of gases with an absolute pressure greater than:
- 40 psi at 70°F (21.1°C)
OR
- 104 psi at 130°F (54.4°C) regardless of the pressure at 70°F (21.1°C)
OR
� A liquid with a vapor pressure greater than 40 psi at 100°F (37.8°C), as
determined by ASTM D323-72.
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WAC 296-839-500 (Continued)
Container
A vessel, other than a pipe or piping system, that holds a hazardous chemical.
Examples include:
� Bags
� Barrels
� Bottles
� Boxes
� Cans
Deï¬nitions
� Cylinders
� Drums
� Reaction vessels
� Storage tanks
� Rail cars.
Designated representative
� An individual or organization with written authorization from an employee
OR
� A recognized or certified collective bargaining agent (not necessarily autho-
rized by an employee)
OR
� A legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated employee.
Distributor
A business that supplies hazardous chemicals to other employers. Included
are employers who conduct retail and wholesale transactions.
Explosive
A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instant release of pressure, gas, and
heat when exposed to a sudden shock, pressure, or high temperature.
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Flammable
A chemical in one of the following categories:
� Aerosols that, when tested using a method described in 16 CFR 1500.45,
yield either a:
- Flame projection of more than 18 inches at full valve opening
OR
- A flashback (a flame extending back to the valve) at any degree of valve
opening
Deï¬nitions
� Gases that, at the temperature and pressure of the surrounding area, form
a:
- Flammable mixture with air at a concentration of 13% by volume, or less
OR
- Range of flammable mixtures with air wider than 12%, by volume,
regardless of the lower limit
� Liquids with a flashpoint below 100°F (37.8°C). A mixture with at least
99% of its components having flashpoints of 100°F (37.8°C), or higher,
isn’t considered a flammable liquid
� Solids, other than blasting agents or explosives, as defined in WAC
296-52-417 or 29 CFR 1910.109(a), that:
- Is likely to cause fire through friction, moisture, absorption, spontaneous
chemical change or retained heat from manufacturing or processing
OR
- That can be readily ignited (and when ignited burns so vigorously and
persistently that it creates a serious hazard)
OR
- When tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.44, ignite and
burn with a self-sustained flame at a rate greater than 1/10th of an inch
per second along its major axis.
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Definitions
WAC 296-839-500 (Continued)
Flashpoint
The minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off an ignitable concentration
of vapor, when tested by any of the following measurement methods:
� Tagliabue closed tester. Use this for liquids with a viscosity less than, 45
Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) at 100°F (37.8°C), that don’t contain
suspended solids and don’t tend to form a surface film under test. See
American National Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by Tag Closed
Tester, Z11.24-1979 (ASTM D 56-79)
Deï¬nitions
� Pensky-Martens closed tester. Use this for liquids with a viscosity equal to, or
greater than, 45 SUS at 100°F (37.8°C) or for liquids that contain suspended
solids or have a tendency to form a surface film under test. See American
National Standard Method of Test for Flashpoint by Pensky-Martens Closed
Tester, Z11.7-1979 (ASTM D 93-79)
� Setaflash closed tester. See American National Standard Method of Test for
Flashpoint by Setaflash Closed Tester (ASTM D 3278-78)
Organic peroxides, which undergo auto accelerating thermal decomposi-
tion, are excluded from any of the flashpoint measurement methods specified
above.
Hazardous chemical
A chemical, which is a physical or health hazard.
Hazard warning
Words, pictures or symbols (alone or in combination) that appear on labels (or
other forms of warning such as placards or tags) that communicate specific
physical and health hazards (including target organ effects) associated with
chemicals in a container.
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Health hazard
A chemical that may cause health effects in short or long-term exposed
employees based on statistically significant evidence from a single study
conducted by using established scientific principles.
Health hazards include, but aren’t limited to, any of the following:
� Carcinogens
� Toxic or highly toxic substances
� Reproductive toxins
Deï¬nitions
� Irritants
� Corrosives
� Sensitizers
� Hepatotoxins (liver toxins)
� Nephrotoxins (kidney toxins)
� Neurotoxins (nervous system toxins)
� Substances that act on the hematopoietic system (blood or blood forming
system)
� Substances that can damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
Identity
A chemical or common name listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
and label.
Importer
The first business, within the Customs Territory of the United States, that
receives hazardous chemicals produced in other countries and supplies them
to manufacturers, distributors or employers within the United States.
Label
Written, printed, or graphic material displayed on, or attached to, a container
of hazardous chemicals.
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WAC 296-839-500 (Continued)
Manufacturer
An employer with a workplace where one or more chemicals (including items
not exempt as “articles,� see Table 1 in this chapter) are produced for use or
distribution.
Material safety data sheet (MSDS)
Written, printed or electronic information (on paper, microfiche, or on-screen)
that informs manufacturers, distributors or employers about the chemical, its
hazards and protective measures as required by this rule.
Deï¬nitions
Mixture
A combination of 2 or more chemicals that retain their chemical identify after
being combined.
Organic peroxide
An organic compound containing the bivalent-O-O- structure. It may be
considered a structural derivative of hydrogen peroxide if one or both of the
hydrogen atoms has been replaced by an organic radical.
Oxidizer
A chemical, other than a blasting agent or explosive as defined in WAC
296-52-417 or 29 CFR 1910.109(a), that starts or promotes combustion
in other materials, causing fire either of itself or through the release of
oxygen or other gases.
Permissible exposure limits
See chapter 296-841 WAC, for definition of this term.
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WAC 296-839-500 (Continued)
Physical hazards
A chemical that has scientifically valid evidence to show it's one of the
following:
� A combustible liquid
� A compressed gas
� Explosive
� Flammable
� An organic peroxide
Deï¬nitions
� An oxidizer
� Pyrophoric
� Unstable (reactive)
� Water-reactive
Produce
To do one or more of the following:
� Manufacture
� Process
� Formulate
� Blend
� Extract
� Generate
� Emit
� Repackage
Pyrophoric
Chemicals that ignite spontaneously in the air at a temperature of 130°F
(54.4°C) or below.
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WAC 296-839-500 (Continued)
Responsible party
Someone who can provide more information about the hazardous chemical
and appropriate emergency procedures.
Threshold limit values (TLVs)
Airborne concentrations of substances established by the American
Conference of Governmental Inustrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and represent
Deï¬nitions
conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be
repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse health effects.
TLVs are specified in the most recent edition of the Threshold limit values for
Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices
and include the following categories:
� Threshold limit value-time-weighted average (TLV-TWA)
� Threshold limit value-short-term exposure limit (TLV-STEL)
� Threshold limit value-ceiling (TLV-C).
Unstable (reactive)
A chemical in its pure state, or as produced or transported, that will vigorously
polymerize, decompose, condense, or become self-reactive under conditions
of shocks, pressure or temperature.
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Definitions
WAC 296-839-500 (Continued)
Use
To do one or more of the following:
� Package
� Handle
� React
� Emit
� Extract
Deï¬nitions
� Generate as a by-product
� Transfer
Water-reactive
A chemical that reacts with water to release a gas that is either flammable or presents
a heath hazard.
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