MSDS, the form containing health and safety data
Material Safety Data Sheets are a very important component in safety protocols for all organizations that use any potentially hazardous substances. Employees need to know and have the right to know what chemicals they are working with.
MSDSs are standardized forms which list the properties of a substance and whether it is hazardous to humans or the environment. These forms allow the people working with chemicals to be informed on how to handle, store and dispose of them safely and correctly. The information provided includes a substances' ingredients, propensity for fire or explosion, reactivity, first aid measures which should be taken and its health effects. Health effects listed can include toxicity, teratogenicity and carcinogenicity.
Molecular formulas, pH, melting and boiling points, flash point and solubility in water are some of the other listed information most MSDS forms provide. You will also find what steps should be taken in case of an accidental spill or exposure.
Most MSDSs are provided by the company but they can also be found online though the chemical supplier or manufacturer, or from MSDS providing companies and organizations.
Since new information can be available after a time, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System in Canada has set an expiration of 3 years, at which point it must be reissued. If new information of significance becomes available before the 3 years is up, a new MSDS must be issued.
MSDS sheets are covered as part of our online WHMIS training course. For more information please visit our Training course page.
