Although you don’t work in a laboratory or a manufacturing environment in which you are exposed for a variety of chemical hazards, you do work with or around some hazardous chemicals, and you have a right to know the hazards of those chemicals and how to use them safely. To ensure that you are armed with that information, the hazardous chemicals that we use have specific hazard labels on them and we make safety data sheets (SDS) available. We will discuss hazard labels in a different Safety Talk. In this Safety Talk we will discuss SDS.
If you’ve been in the workforce for several years, you may be familiar with the acronym MSDS (material safety data sheets), which have been replaced by SDS. Essentially, an SDS is used as an informational source about hazards and safety precautions relative to a chemical. Safety data sheets also provide critical information for emergency responders, poison centers, transportation companies that move hazardous chemicals. Each chemical has its own unique SDS, which is created by the chemical manufacturer and is required to be provided to end-users (such as us) by distributors of the chemical. Each SDS has 16 sections that are always in the same order. The sections are as follows:
- Identification includes product identifier, contact information for the manufacturer or distributor, and recommended use.
- Hazard Identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical and the information required to be on the hazard label.
- Composition/Information on Ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients and any trade secret claims.
- First-Aid Measures includes important symptoms/effects and required treatment.
- Fire-Fighting Measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques and chemical hazards from fire.
- Accidental Release Measures lists emergency procedures, protective equipment and containment and cleanup methods.
- Handling and Storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.
- Exposure Controls/Personal Protection lists permissible exposure limits, appropriate engineering controls and recommended personal protective equipment.
- Physical and Chemical Properties lists the chemical’s characteristics.
- Stability and Reactivity lists chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions.
- Toxicological Information includes routes of exposure, related symptoms, and acute/chronic effects
- Ecological Information provides information relative to the environmental impact if chemical is released to the environment
- Disposal Considerations provides guidance on proper disposal practices, recycling, and safe handling practices
- Transport Information provides guidance for shipping and transporting hazardous chemicals by road, air, rail, or sea
- Regulatory Information identifies the safety, health, and environmental regulations specific for the product
- Other Information includes the date of preparation or last revision
DISCUSS WITH YOUR CREW
Ask employees if they have any questions about what information can be found on safety data sheets.
Ensure that all employees know how to access safety data sheets (SDS). Remember that the safety data sheets may be kept at the primary workplace facility if employees can immediately obtain the required information in an emergency.