MSDS 101
You need to know
By Gary Rubell
Cleaner Times
September 2001
As a safety consultant, I am always working with companies that use materials that are
hazardous. Some of these companies use them directly in the manufacturing process,
while others use them for maintenance in their facilities or others. Sometimes these
hazardous materials need to be mixed or applied in a public place possibly exposing
numberous people to them. No matter how or where they are used, they are all
potentially hazardous in some way. Knowledge and protection from the hazardous
qualities of these materials is crucial for everyone involved.
The most often used source of information we turn to is the label. We go there because
it鈥檚 right there in our hand or in front of our face. It quickly tells us about the product鈥檚
hazards. We might see that the material is flammable or corrosive, but how much do we
really know at that point? Should we be seeking out more knowledge when we see this
type of label warning? The answer to both is 鈥淵es!鈥?. In order to do this, we need to
access and review the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
What is that? This is how many of the employees in the working world today may
respond. This is because many of the employers don鈥檛 have them available, or, if they do
have them, the employees don鈥檛 know where they are or how to use them.
This is the goal of the article鈥攖o bring this information back to the forefront of employee
knowledge and communication in your work place and safety program. Acquiring and
maintaining the most recent versions of all MSDSs could avoid many unnecessary
accidents and exposures. The key is teaching everyone why they are available, where to
find them, and how to use them.
First off, you should know that all hazardous materials and even some not so hazardous
materials have Material Safety Data Sheets. For example, I have seen MSDSs for
purified water, hand lotion, and white out. At the same time, they are available for
acetone, alcohols, and all other potentially harmful chemicals and materials. They are
even now available for wood products that contain pesticides and preservatives.
The next thing you need to know is that all manufacturers are required to make and
provide MSDSs for their products if they have any potentially hazardous qualities in
them or in the making of the product. You will not always just get the MSDS. You may
have to request it from the manufacturer. Small quantity and retail purchases usually will
not come with an MSDS, unless you ask.
Now, let鈥檚 get into the MSDS and what separates it from just labels. The MSDS is a
greatly expanded version of the materials label and contains information that is not even
included on a label. The information is broken down into sections that provide specific
answers and details about the material. The sections are not always in the same order, but
the overall contents are the same. The sections are as follows:
SECTION 1: Identity
In this section, you will find the manufacturers name and address and/or the supplier鈥檚
information. It will also list the emergency phone number and the date that the MSDS
was prepared. This is important for making sure that you have the most recent version in
your file.
SECTION 2: Hazardous Ingredients
In this section, you will find the substances鈥? hazardous ingredients, broken down by
percentages. You will also get information on worker exposure limits to the chemical,
such as the OSHA PEL (permissible exposure limit) and TLV (threshold limit value);
other recommended limits are also included. The only time you won鈥檛 find the specific
ingredients of a chemical is when it鈥檚 protected as a trade secret. The MSDS will still tell
you about its hazards and the safety measures required.
SECTION 3: Physical and Chemical Characteristics
The following information will be located in this section:
Boiling point
Vapor pressure
Vapor density
Melting point
Evaporation rate
Water solubility
Appearance and odor under normal conditions
These pieces of information will help you in choosing the proper place to store and use
these materials and to know more about the material if it gets spilled or is leaking.
SECTION 4: Physical Hazards
This section covers things like fire and explosion and ways to handle those hazards.
There is specific information about handling fires and explosions, such a fire fighting
equipment and procedures. It tells you what type of extinguisher to use on the materials.
SECTION 5: Reactivity Data
This section tells you whether the substance is stable. You will learn which other
substances, materials, and situations to keep it away from to prevent reactions. Reactions
can vary from fire to explosion to gas clouds and more.
SECTION 6: Health Hazards
In this section, you will learn how the chemical could enter the body, for instance:
By inhaling through airborne exposure,
Through the skin with direct and indirect contact, or
By swallowing through contact with your mouth.
You will learn about the possible health hazards that could come from exposure. If the
chemical is believed to be a carcinogen (cancer causing), that will also be listed. This
section also covers signs and symptoms of exposure such as eye irritation, nausea,
dizziness, skin rash, headaches, existing medical conditions that could be aggravated by
exposure, emergency and first aid procedures if an accident happens, or any other special
precautions.
It is important to be aware of these symptoms before they occur. In many cases, if they
start to occur, it is too late to address the situation.
SECTION 7: Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
In this section the MSDS will cover the following information:
What to do if the substance spills or leaks,
How to dispose of the substance,
Equipment and procedures needed for cleaning up spills and leaks,
How to handle the substance properly,
How to store it safely, and
Any other precautions.
It is important to know how to react in a spill situation and to have the proper materials
for spills on hand before a spill occurs. The fire department will often have these
materials for spills, but, often they are not on scene soon enough to restrict the spill like
you could.
SECTION 8: Control Measures
In this section, protection measures to reduce harmful exposures are listed. You will find
what type of equipment to use for protecting yourself, such as
Respirators, including dust masks, cartridge masks and air supply systems;
Gloves of all types;
Eye protection of all types;
Protective clothing, aprons, and shoes; as well as
Ventilation to use when handling the particular material.
Special work or hygiene practices that should be followed will also be included in this
section.
As you can see, there is a lot to be learned by using an MSDS. The most important is
knowing how to protect yourself while using the material and knowing how to deal with
exposure if it occurs. The MSDS will give you specific information about first aid
procedures in the event of an exposure. It may tell you to wash out your eyes for 15 to 20
minutes if the material gets into your eyes. It may tell you to go out to a fresh air location
if the fumes make you dizzy. Again, all of this should be known in advance of using the
materials.
Every company should establish specific procedures for handling and training employees
in the use of hazardous materials. It can be the difference between life and death in some
cases.
Gary Rubell is a senior safety consultant with 15 years of experience. He is currently
working with the Compliance Management Group, which serves business and industry
nationwide in complying with mandated regulations through its network of consultants,
which serves business and industry nationwide in complying with mandated regulations
through its network of consultants and Web site at www.safetycomply.com. The firm can
be reached at 888-467-4262.
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