What is MSDS? :  Material Safety Data Sheet A MSDS is a document that contains information on the potential health effects of exposure and how to work safely with the chemical product. It is an essential starting point for the development of a complete health and safety program. It contains hazard evaluations on the use, storage, handling and emergency procedures all related to that material. The MSDS contains much more information about the material than the label and it is prepared by the supplier. 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.  Always be familiar with the hazards of a product BEFORE you start using it. You should look at a MSDS, match the name of the chemical on your container to the one on the MSDS, know the hazards, understand safe handling and storage instructions, as well as understand what to do in an emergency. Employers must make sure that all controlled products have an up-to-date (less than three years old) MSDS when it enters the workplace. The MSDS's must be readily available to the workers who are exposed to the controlled product and to the health and safety committee or representative. If a controlled product is made in the workplace, the employer has a duty to make an MSDS for any of these products.   Employers may computerize the MSDS information as long as all employees have access to and are trained on how to use the computer terminals, the terminals are kept in working order, and that the employer makes a hard copy of the MSDS available to the employee or safety and health committee/representative upon request. The purpose of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is to inform industrial purchasers and users of hazardous chemicals of the reasonably foreseeable physical and chemical hazards that may arise from the use of those chemicals. Most materials packaged for consumer use are exempt from the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The MSDS should include precautions for normal use, handling, storage, disposal, and spill cleanup. It should not include recommendations for protective measures that are more strict than needed. OSHA states, in the inspection procedures for the HCS,10 "Some MSDSs include recommendations for protective measures that are for 'worst case scenarios,' e.g., recommending supplied air suits for products of relatively low toxicity. The HCS requires that accurate information be provided on the MSDSs. This applies as much to 'overwarning' on the MSDS and label as well as the absence of information ('underwarning')." Each Material Safety Data Sheet shall be in English, and shall contain at least the following information: The identity (product name) used on the label, and chemical and common name(s) of ingredients which have been determined to be health hazards, and which comprise 1% or greater of the composition, except carcinogens shall be listed if the concentrations are 0.1% or greater; and, The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to present a physical hazard when present in the mixture; Relevant physical and chemical characteristics of the hazardous chemical (such as vapor pressure, flash point); Relevant physical hazards, including the potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity; Relevant health hazards, including signs and symptoms of exposure, and any medical conditions generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure to the chemical; The primary route(s) of entry into the body; The OSHA permissible exposure limit and ACGIH Threshold Limit Value. Additional applicable exposure limits may be listed; Whether the hazardous chemical is listed in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on Carcinogens (latest edition) or has been found to be a potential carcinogen in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs (latest editions), or by OSHA; Precautions for safe handling and use, including appropriate hygienic practices, protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment, and procedures for clean-up of spills and leaks; Appropriate control measures, such as engineering controls, work practices, or personal protective equipment; Emergency and first aid procedures; The date of preparation of the Material Safety Data Sheet or the last change to it; and; The name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer or other responsible party preparing or distributing the Material Safety Data Sheet, who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary. If no relevant information is found for any given category, it should be marked to indicate that no applicable information was found. If significant new information becomes available regarding the hazards of a chemical, or ways to protect against the hazards, this new information shall be added to the Material Safety Data Sheet within three months. A Material Safety Data Sheet must be provided with the initial shipment of a hazardous chemical, and with the first shipment after a Material Safety Data Sheet is updated. Material Safety Data Sheets shall also be made readily available, upon request, to designated employee representatives and to OSHA representatives.

MSDS : | Molybdenum | Tungsten | Tantalum | Ta/W | Rhenium | Niobium |

  Site Map 

| Home | Fabrication | Technology | Contact Us | Quality | Calculator | Metal Specs |