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AUGUST 2010
MATERIAL
SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)
Do you
know how to use them and why it is important?
When were Material Safety Data Sheets required?
OSHA began requiring MSDS's for Hazardous
materials effective May 26, 1986
What agencies or regulations require us to keep MSDS's?
OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration), EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency), and DOSH (Department of Safety and
Health)
What is the minimum amount of material that requires an
MSDS?
The
Hazards Communication standard
does not specify a minimum amount. Some
chemicals
are very dangerous in
milligram
quantities, others are not. The Standard is unable to anticipate and
determine the potentially
toxic
effects of over 50,000,000 known chemical compounds and their
mixtures.
What items do (or do not) require MSDS's?
OSHA
requires MSDS's ONLY for materials that a) meet OSHA's
definition of hazardous
and b) are "known to be present in the workplace in such a manner that
employees may be exposed under normal conditions of use or in a
foreseeable emergency".
What is a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document that
contains information on the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity
and environmental) and how to work safely with the chemical product. It
is intended to tell what the hazards of the product are, how to use the
product safely, what to expect if the recommendations are not followed,
what to do if accidents occur, how to recognize symptoms of
overexposure, and what to do if such incidents occur.
What information is on the MSDS?
1.The identity used on
the label
2.Chemical and common
names
3.Physical and chemical
characteristics of the hazardous ingredients (e.g., flashpoint,
appearance and odor)
4. Physical hazards
(e.g., combustible, unstable)
5. Health hazards (e.g.,
corrosive) plus signs and symptoms of exposure and medical conditions
aggravated by exposure
6. Primary route (s) of
entry (e.g., inhalation)
7. Air exposure limits
(e.g., PEL, TLV)
8. Carcinogenicity
9. Precautions for safe
handling and use (e.g., storage, waste disposal)
10. Control measures
(e.g., personal protection)
11. Emergency and first
aid procedures
12. Date of preparation
of MSDS
13. Name/address/phone
number of responsible party.
In Solidarity
Rolf Laurin, Local 338 S&H
Chair
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