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Safety Resources - MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)
HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - ITS PURPOSE AND ITS USE
The Material Safety Data Sheet, often called the MSDS, is designed to provide employers and employees with the information to help them use a chemical substance or mixture safely. The MSDS identifies the substances(s) of concern and potential hazards. It describes precautions for use, handling and storage. It also gives procedures for emergency situations.
The MSDS from different companies may use different formats, but al: should provide the information that is required by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Of most MSDS, information is divided into sections as follows:
HEADING
The heading gives the name and address of the company. MSDS gives one telephone number for medical emergencies and another for technical information. It also gives the date that the MSDS was issued.
SECTION 1 - IDENTIFICATION
Line 1.1 gives the identity, the product name you see on the container label. Line 1.2 describes the type of product.
SECTION 2 - HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS
This section identifies the hazardous chemicals contained in the product. A chemical component is considered hazardous if exposure to the substance would produce a significant adverse effect during normal use or predictable misuse. For further details see 29 CFR 1910.1200. To help the MSDS user, the MSDS may also list components that are not hazardous.
If available, a time weighted average (TWA) is given for each component. A TWA is an airborne concentration limit set for the substance in the workplace (see Glossary). The worker should use protective measures if workplace air concentrations exceed the TWA. Most TWA values are set by OSHA or by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
SECTION 3- PHYSICAL DATA
Certain physical properties of the product are reported here. Knowing these properties helps the user choose proper handling and emergency procedures.
SECTION 4- FIRE AND EXPLOSION DATA
Section 4 gives fire fighting guidance and warns of any unusual fire, decomposition or explosion hazard. Some will break down to give off a toxic gas if heated in a fire. For those that can give off flammable vapors, Line 4.3 gives the flash point (See Glossary).
SECTION 5- REACTIVITY DATA
Section 5 describes the stability of the material under reasonably foreseeable conditions of storage, use and misuse. Conditions that could cause a dangerous reaction or degrade product are noted. In addition, this section may identify other chemicals that are incompatible. Mixing two incompatible chemicals can produce a violent reaction or give off noxious fumes.
SECTION 6 - SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURES
This section gives instructions to handle spills and disposal of unusable material. The user should check all sections of the MSDS, including Special Protection Information, before working on a spill. Directions for containment and cleanup are given, including recommended procedures for disposal. Because waste handling rules are complex, the MSDS may not name a specific disposal procedure.
SECTION 7- HEALTH HAZARD DATA
First, Section 7 gives the signal word for the product - CAUTION, WARNING OR DANGER. A product marked DANGER is the most hazardous. Some products also are marked POISON because of consumer packaging rules.
Line 7.1 describes the health hazards and symptoms that can result from eye or skin contact, swallowing or breathing the product. There are two types of health hazard: (1) acute, where the adverse effect shows up rapidly as in the case of skin, eye or lung irritation or damage, and (2) chronic, where the adverse effect has symptoms which develop slowly over a long period of time, and which usually result from repeated exposure. Cumulative tissue damage, cancer and birth defects are chronic effects.
Line 7.2 may give special information about an individual component in the product, especially if the substance could produce chronic effects from repeated exposure.
SECTION 8 - FIRST AID
Because substances may enter the body by swallowing, by breathing or from skin or eye contact. first aid instructions are given for each likely route of exposure. It is important to follow the directions carefully. Proper treatment of exposure to one chemical can be harmful for exposure to another.
Immediate flushing with water is very crucial to treat eye contact with a corrosive or very irritating substance.
After first aid treatment the user should consider calling a poison control center or a physician. The Poison Control Center number to call is given on each page of the MSDS, 1 -8OO-328-OO26.
SECTION 9- SPECIAL PROTECTION INFORMATION
This section names equipment needed to handle the product without sustaining injury. It describes protective clothing that must be worn and any respiratory protection needed, whether it be personal equipment, exhaust ventilation or both. It may also specify precautions such as eliminating ignition sources when using a flammable product (see also Section 5).
SECTION 10- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/PRECAUTIONS
This section gives other information that may help the user. Line 10.1 of the MSDS states the
DOT hazard class, if any. Suggestions for storage may also appear in Section 10 (or in Section 5).
SUMMARY
The Material Safety Data Sheet is prepared and provided for your safety. It is up to each worker to study it with care and to apply all the required precautions and protection. Contact your supervisor if you have any questions or further concerns.
GLOSSARY OF COMMON MSDS TERMS
Acute Effect
Adverse symptoms that develop rapidly (usually within 24 hours).
Acute Toxicity
Adverse effects that result from a single dose or a brief exposure to a substance.
Asphyxiant
A vapor or gas that can cause unconsciousness or death by suffocation (lack of oxygen).
"C" or Ceiling
The maximum allowable workplace concentration limit for an airborne substance. NOT TO BE EXCEEDED EVEN MOMENTARILY.
Carcinogen
A substance or agent that causes cancer.
Chronic Effect
Symptoms which develop slowly over a long period of time or which recur frequently.
Chronic Toxicity
Adverse effects resulting from repeated or prolonged exposure to a substance.
Combustible Material
Material that burns after being heated sufficiently; flashpoint above 100 degrees F.
Corrosive
A substance that causes chemical burns or destructively attacks body tissue.
Decomposition
Chemical breakdown of a substance.
Dermal
By or through the skin.
Flash Point
The lowest temperature at which a liquid will give oft enough flammable vapor to ignite when exposed to a flame.
Flammable Material
A material that catches fire readily and burns rapidly; flash point of 100 degrees F or less.
Ingestion
Swallowing.
Irritant
Can cause an inflammatory response or reaction of the eye, skin or respiratory system at the site of contact.
LD5O
Lethal dose 50; the dose that will kill 50% of the test animals receiving that dose; a measure of acute toxicity.
Mutagen
Causes mutations in DNA and living cells.
Oxidizer
Any substance that releases oxygen readily, e.g., nitrates and peroxides. Oxidizers react readily with many organic substances.
PEL
Permissible exposure limit, an 8-hour TLV set by OSHA.
pH
Measures how acidic or caustic an aqueous liquid is on a scale of 1-14; pH=1 is very acidic, pH=7 indicates a neutral solution and pH 14 indicates a very caustic (basic, alkaline) solution.
Reactivity
The relative ability of a substance to undergo chemical change by combining with another substance or by breaking down. Certain conditions such as heat and light may make a substance more reactive. An explosion is a very rapid reaction.
Sensitizer
Repeated exposure may cause a marked response not necessarily limited to the site of contact.
Solubility
The amount of a substance that can be dissolved in a solvent usually water.
Solvent
A liquid in which other substances are dissolved. Water is a common solvent.
Stel
Short term exposure limit (often, 15 minutes); a TLV.
Teratogen
Causes growth abnormalities in the fetus.
TLV
Threshold Limit Value; the airborne concentration of a substance calculated to be safe for most workers. The TLV is measured in units of parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). The PEL. STEL and TWA are types of TLV.
Toxicity
The capacity of a substance to produce a harmful effect when the substance has reached a suflicient concentration at a certain site in the body.
Toxic Substance
A substance which can cause acute or chronic injury.
TWA
Time weighted average. The TLV for an eight hour workday.