MSDS

The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is used by chemical manufacturers and vendors to convey hazard information to users. The Hazard Communication Standard requires providing information about the hazardous chemicals that employees are exposed to, product labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, appropriate training, and a written hazard communication program. The Office of Health and Safety has written the Hazard Communication Program to comply with this requirement. Personnel identified as having specific responsibility for implementing the plan are supervisors. The Office of Health and Safety is responsible for providing consultation and specific training when needed. Remember that this standard applies to those employees who do not work in a laboratory.

The supervisor is responsible for acquiring and updating material safety data sheets for all hazardous chemicals found in their work area. The material safety data sheets should be reviewed before using the chemical and kept in the work area so that they are readily accessible to all.

If you have more than one material safety data sheet for a hazardous chemical from the same manufacturer, check the date and use the most current one discarding all others. To obtain further information or assistance in interpreting material safety data sheets, contact the Office of Health and Safety or local safety authority.

A material safety data sheet must be developed and sent with those products that are synthesized and distributed with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR Part 1910.1200(f)(1-5)] if they contain hazardous chemicals in concentrations greater than one percent (or 0.1% for carcinogens). It is the responsibility of the laboratory synthesizing the product to develop and distribute the material safety data sheet.

A manufacturer or distributor of a chemical product must send material safety data sheets to the purchaser with the initial shipment of a product/hazardous chemical and with each update of the material safety data sheet. Material safety data sheets will either accompany or precede the shipment. However, the manufacturer or distributor is not required to send material safety data sheets with subsequent orders of the same product.