Material Safety Data

Sheet (MSDS)
ANALYSIS REPORT
 MATERIAL SAFETY DATA
SHEET (MSDS)

• A safety data sheet (SDS), also

known as a material safety data
sheet (MSDS) or a product safety
data sheet (PSDS), describes the
hazards that a particular chemical
substance can present. It also
provides key information on how to
correctly handle and store a
particular substance as well as
detailing emergency measures to be
taken in the event of an accident
e.g. first aid measures, fire-fighting
measures and accidental release
measures.
Material Safety Data Sheet Content

A supplier material safety data sheet must provide at least nine categories or sections of content
and approximately sixty items of information distributed among those categories. An MSDS must be
reviewed at least every three years. The categories must have the following similar headings:
I. Hazardous Ingredients
This section will include:
 The chemical names and concentrations concerning the hazardous
ingredients
 The LD 50 and LC50 indicate the short term toxic potential
 CAS number which is useful in locating more information especially if the
product is known by numerous names\
II. Preparation Information
This section includes:
 The name address and telephone number of who prepared the MSDS
CONCLUSION

Manufacturers and distributors must

include an MSDS and a warning label with Click icon to add picture
each container of product that they ship to
a customer. Distributors are responsible for
ensuring that you have a material safety
data sheet for each hazardous chemical
product they sell to you.
Employers and employees need the
information contained on MSDSs to protect
themselves from hazardous chemical
exposures and to work safely with chemical
products. The result will be a reduction in
chemical source illness and injuries in the
workplace.
 The date the MSDS was prepared
o If more than three years old, it must be updated
III. Product Information
This section:
 Identifies the product by the name on the supplier label
 Provides the chemical name, family and formula (including molecular weight)
 Lists the product identifiers, manufacturer and supplier names, addresses
and emergency telephone numbers
IV. Physical Data
This section includes information indicating how it looks and how it will behave when
it is
used, stored, spilled and how it will react with other products indicated through:
 The state it is in e.g. liquid
 The odour and appearance of the product
 The specific gravity, vapour density, evaporation rate, boiling point and the
freezing point
 The vapour pressure, the higher the concentration the higher the possible air
concentration
 The odour threshold, which is the lowest airborne concentration of a chemical
that can be perceived by smell
 The pH reflecting the corrosive or irritant nature of the product
V. Fire and Explosion Hazard
This section describes:
 The temperature and conditions that can cause the chemical to catch fire or
explode
o UEL (upper explosion limit) or UFL (upper flammable limit) will indicate
the highest concentration of a substance in the air that will produce a fire
or explosion when a source of ignition (heat, spark or flame) is present
o LEL (lower explosion limit) or LFL (lower flammable limit) will indicate the
lowest concentration of a substance in the air that will produce a fire or
explosion when a source or ignition is present
o From the LEL to the UEL, the mixture is explosive. Below the UEL the
mixture is too lean to burn; above the LEL the mixture is too rich to burn.
However, concentrations above the UEL are still very dangerous because
if the concentration is lowered (by introducing fresh air), it will enter the
explosive range
 Means of extinction including the type of fire extinguisher required
 Personal Protective Equipment required for fire fighting
 Some of the storage requirements however more of this information is found
in the reactivity data section
VI. Reactivity Data:
This section describes:
 The chemical stability of the product and its reactions to light, heat, moisture,
shock and incompatible materials
 Storage requirements based on the reactivity or instability of the product
 Incompatible products that must not be mixed or stored near each other
 The need for disposal before they become extremely reactive
VII. Toxicology Properties:
This section describes:
 The harmful effects of exposure
 How the product is likely to enter the body and what effects it has on the
organs in the body
 The short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) health effects from exposure
to the product
 The exposure limits, which indicates the maximum concentration in air of a
hazardous substance (gas, vapour, dust, mist, fume) to which nearly all
workers (without personal protective equipment) can be repeatedly exposed
without adverse health effects. Exposure limits are expressed in three ways:
o TWA (time weighted average) indicating the maximum average
concentration to which workers can safety be exposed for a normal 8-
hour workday or 48-hour workweek.
o STEL (short-term exposure limit) indicating the maximum concentration to
which workers can safely be exposed for a period of up to 15 minutes.
The STEL is higher than the TWA. It may not be sustained more than four
times a day
o C (ceiling) describes the concentration that may not be safely exceeded
at any time, even for an instant. The C is higher that the STEL
 If these limits are to be exceeded, the worker must use recommended
personal protective equipment. Exposure limits are expressed as ppm for
gases and vapours and as mg/m3
for dusts, fumes and mists
 Note these limits may be expressed as OEL, PEL and TLV
 Information used to assess the health problems of any employee who uses
the chemical and determine if that worker’s problems are related to the
Chemical.
VIII. Preventative Measures:
This section provides:
 Instruction for the safe use, handling and storage of the product
 The personal protective equipment or safety devices required
 The steps for cleaning up spills
 Information on the waste disposal requirements
IX. First Aid Measures:
This section describes:
 Specific first aid measures related to acute effects of exposure to
the product
 First aid steps in the correct sequence
 Information to assist in planning for emergencies
The MSDS may contain additional sections providing further
information related to the
specific product.
Location of the MSDSs
 Hard copy readily available
 Computer terminals
 Employees and others must know where the MSDS is and how to
use them
MSDS revisions are required every 3 years or sooner if new product
information is
available
Trade Secret Exemptions
Information may be withheld to protect industries’ right to protect confidential
business
information. This information is referred to as trade secrets.
The producer of the product can withhold:
 The name and concentration of any ingredient
 Name of relevant toxicological studies
Once a claim if filed to withhold information the product label must state:
 Date the exemption filed
 Claim registration number
The MSDS must state:
 That an exemption has been granted
 Date it is granted
 Registry number
 Product hazards
Medical Access
Doctors and nurses can access withheld information however this information
remains
confidential.