With regards to the Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations, all persons manufacturing, selling, and supplying hazardous chemicals shall as far as reasonably practicable provide persons receiving or using such substances with a material safety data sheet [MSDS].
What is a MSDS?
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a form with data regarding the properties of a particular substance. This form is a means of transferring essential information on handling, transport, storage and processing of the chemical substance.
The MSDS should be written in a 16 section format. These 16 sections are always in the same sequence. The reason for this is once the framework with regards to the MSDS format is known it is possible to directly refer to the information required by the user.
There are 4 key issues that need to be known about chemicals:
- What is the product or chemical and what should be known immediately in an emergency situation?
- What should be done if a hazardous situation occurs?
- How the hazardous situation can be avoided or prevented?
- Other useful information
MSDS Sections Explained
So let us now take a closer look at what information you should expect under the 4 issues mentioned above:
1. What is the Product or Chemical and What Should be Known Immediately in an Emergency Situation
SECTION 1: Chemical product and company identification
This section must state the product name and also the name, address and contact number of the supplier. An emergency contact number used by company must also be given.Whether the chemical product is a substance or a preparation must also be stated.
SECTION 2: Composition/information on ingredients
The ingredients contributing to the hazard must be indicated.In the case of a preparation the information of the chemical nature of product must be given.
SECTION 3: Hazards identification
Here the most important hazards and effects of the product must be clearly summarised. The adverse human health effects, environmental affects must be stated.
2. What Should be Done if a Hazardous Situation Occurs?
SECTION 4: First Aid measures
Clear first aid measures must be stated. This information to be subdivided according to different exposure routes; inhalation, skin, contact, eye contact and ingestion.
SECTION 5: Fire fighting measures
This section must state which extinguishing media is suitable.Hazards with regards to firefighting measures, methods and special equipment.
SECTION 6: Accidental release measures
This section must contain information on personal, environmental precautions and also neutralisation and methods for cleaning up of the substance.
3. How the Hazardous Situation can be Avoided or Prevented
SECTION 7: Handling and Storage
Handling – prevention of user exposure, prevention of fire and explosion and precautions for safe handling
Storage – technical measures and storage conditions. To include separation from incompatible products.
SECTION 8: Exposure controls / personal protection
In this section engineering measures, control parameters and personal protective equipment is mentioned.
SECTION 9: Physical and chemical properties
This section must include physical state, form, color and odour.
SECTION 10: Stability and reactivity
Possible hazardous reactions occurring under specific conditions must be stated. Information that must be contained here are conditions to avoid, materials to avoid, and hazardous decomposition products that may be expected.
4. Other Useful Information
SECTION 11: Toxicological information
Complete and comprehensive description of toxicological health effects, acute toxicity, local effects, sensitisation and long term toxicity of product which can arise if user comes in contact.
SECTION 12: Ecological information
This section must have information on possible environmental effects.
SECTION 13: Disposal considerations
Methods for safe and environmentally preferred disposal must be contained in this section.
SECTION 14: Transport information
Information on codes and classification according to international regulations for transport.
SECTION 15: Regulatory information
This section must contain information on regulations specifically applicable to the chemical product.
SECTION 16: Other information
Any further information which may be important form a safety point of view, for example training needs and recommended use and possible restrictions of the product may be stated.
General aspects that should also appear on every page of the MSDS, includes the name of the chemical substance as used on the label and it must be dated and numbered. The date indicated must be the latest revision date.
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