This material is for training purposes only. Its purpose is to inform employers and employees of best practices in occupational safety and health and general OSHA compliance requirements. This material is not a substitute for any provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or any standards issued by OSHA.
 MODULE FOUR: MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS) MANAGEMENT
What's a MSDS?
The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is used to communicate chemical hazard information from the manufacturer to the employee. This is the information needed to inform and train employees on the safe use of hazardous chemicals. The employer is required to have an MSDS for each hazardous chemical product they use. This module will examine the MSDS and the requirements for maintaining an effective MSDS system. So, let's get going.
Who must have them?
- Chemical manufacturers and importers must obtain or develop a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import.
- Employers must have a material safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use.
The MSDS form
Let's take a look at the MSDS form, itself. Some of the terms in each section link to additional information. You can check out the glossary for general information on terms you may not be familiar with. I'll detail important points related to each MSDS section and then show you an example that illustrates those points. So, let's start the review.
Each material safety data sheet must be in English (although the employer may maintain copies in
other languages as well), and must contain at least the following information:
- 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.
The English language requirement was included to prevent importers of
chemicals from supplying MSDSs in a foreign language. This requirement, however,
does not prevent a chemical manufacturer/employer from translating MSDSs from
English into foreign languages, in order to assist non-English speaking employees with
training comprehension and hazard recognition.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
FISHER SCIENTIFIC
CHEMICAL DIVISION
1 REAGENT LANE
FAIR LAWN NJ 07410
(201) 796-7100 |
EMERGENCY NUMBER: (201) 796-7100
CHEMTREC ASSISTANCE: (800) 424-9300 |
THE INFORMATION BELOW IS BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE AND REPRESENTS THE BEST
INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO US. HOWEVER, WE MAKE NO WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO
SUCH INFORMATION, AND WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY RESULTING FROM ITS USE. USERS
SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF THE
INFORMATION FOR THEIR PARTICULAR PURPOSES.
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- The identity used on the label;
- If the hazardous chemical is a single substance, its chemical and common name(s);
- If the hazardous chemical is a mixture which has been tested as a whole to determine its hazards, the chemical and common name(s) of the ingredients which contribute to these known hazards, and the common name(s) of the mixture itself; or,
- If the hazardous chemical is a mixture which has not been tested as a whole, the chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to be health hazards, and which comprise 1% or greater of the composition (0.1% for carcinogens);
SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION
CAS-NUMBER 65-85-0
SUBSTANCE: **BENZOIC ACID**
TRADE NAMES/SYNONYMS:
BENZENECARBOXYLIC ACID; CARBOXYBENZENE; DRACYLIC ACID;
PHENYL CARBOXYLIC ACID; PHENYLFORMIC ACID; RETARDER BA; TENN-PLAS; RETARDEX;
SOLVO POWDER; SALVO LIQUID; PHENYLCARBOXYLIC ACID; BENZOATE;
BENZENEMETHANOIC ACID; BENZENEFORMIC ACID; STCC 4966340;
A-63; A-65; A-68; BP344; C7H6O2; ACC02720
CHEMICAL FAMILY:
Carboxylic acid, aromatic
MOLECULAR FORMULA: C6-H5-C-O2-H
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 122.12
CERCLA RATINGS (SCALE 0-3): HEALTH=3 FIRE=1 REACTIVITY=0 PERSISTENCE=2
NFPA RATINGS (SCALE 0-4): HEALTH=2 FIRE=1 REACTIVITY=U
COMPONENTS AND CONTAMINANTS
COMPONENT: BENZOIC ACID PERCENT: 100
CAS# 65-85-0
EXPOSURE LIMITS:
No occupational exposure limits established by OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH.
5000 pounds CERCLA Section 103 Reportable Quantity
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- Physical and chemical characteristics of the hazardous chemical (such as vapor pressure, flash point);
PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
DESCRIPTION: White powder or crystals with an odor of benzoin or benzaldehyde.
BOILING POINT: 480 F (249 C)
MELTING POINT: 252 F (122 C)
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.2659 @ 15 C
VAPOR PRESSURE: 1 mmHg @ 205 F
PH: 2.8 (satd solution)
SOLUBILITY IN WATER: 2.9% @ 20 C
VAPOR DENSITY: 4.2
SOLVENT SOLUBILITY: Soluble in alcohol, ether, benzene, chloroform,
acetone, carbon disulfide, oil of turpentine, carbon tetrachloride, fixed and
volatile oils; slightly soluble in petroleum ether, hexane.
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- The physical hazards of the hazardous chemical, including the potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity;
FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA
FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD: Slight fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame. Dust/air mixtures may be explosive above the flash point. Vapor from molten benzoic acid may form explosive mixture with air.
FLASH POINT: 250 F (121 C) UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 35 g/ft3 (optimum)
LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 3 g/ft3
AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE: 1060 F (571 C)
FIREFIGHTING MEDIA: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray or regular foam (1990 Emergency Response Guidebook, DOT P 5800.5). For larger fires, use water spray, fog or regular foam
(1990 Emergency Response Guidebook, DOT P 5800.5).
FIREFIGHTING: Move container from fire area if you can do it without risk. Do not scatter spilled material with high-pressure water streams. Dike fire-control water for later disposal (1990 Emergency Response Guidebook, DOT P 5800.5, Guide
Page 31). Use water in flooding quantities as a fog; solid streams of water may be ineffective. Cool affected containers with flooding quantities of water applying water from as far a distance as possible. Avoid breathing vapors or dusts.
REACTIVITY
REACTIVITY:
Stable under normal temperatures and pressures.
INCOMPATIBILITIES:
OXIDIZERS (STRONG): Vigorous exothermic reaction.
DECOMPOSITION:
Thermal decomposition products may include toxic oxides of carbon.
POLYMERIZATION:
Hazardous polymerization has not been reported to occur under normal
temperatures and pressures.
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- The health hazards of the hazardous chemical, including signs and symptoms of exposure, and any medical conditions which are generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure to the chemical;
- The primary route(s) of entry;
- Emergency and first aid procedures;
- The OSHA permissible exposure limit, ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, where available;
- 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;
TOXICITY
IRRITATION DATA: 22 mg/3 days intermittent skin-human moderate;
500 mg/24 hours skin-rabbit mild; 100 mg eye-rabbit severe.
TOXICITY DATA: 6 mg/kg skin-human TDLo; 500 mg/kg oral-man LDLo; 1700 mg/kg
oral-rat LD50; 1940 mg/kg oral-mouse LD50; 2 gm/kg oral-guinea pig LDLo;
2000 mg/kg oral-dog LD50; 2000 mg/kg oral-cat LD50; 2000 mg/kg oral-rabbit
LDLo; 2000 mg/kg subcutaneous-rabbit LDLo; 1400 mg/kg intraperitoneal-guinea
pig LDLo; 1460 mg/kg intraperitoneal-mouse LD50; mutagenic data (RTECS).
CARCINOGEN STATUS: None.
LOCAL EFFECTS: Irritant- eye.
ACUTE TOXICITY LEVEL: Moderately toxic by ingestion.
TARGET EFFECTS: Poisoning may affect the respiratory and central nervous
system.
HEALTH EFFECTS AND FIRST AID
INHALATION:
- ACUTE EXPOSURE - Dust may cause mild respiratory irritation with sore throat
and coughing.
- CHRONICEXPOSURE - No data available.
- FIRST AID - Remove from exposure area to fresh air immediately. If breathing
has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Keep person warm and at rest.
Treat symptomatically and supportively. Get medical attention immediately.
SKIN Contact:
- ACUTE EXPOSURE - Dust and liquid may cause mild irritation and redness. Concentrations up to 0.2%, may elicit an immediate skin reaction varying from erythema to a non-immunologic Contact urticaria in some persons.
- CHRONIC EXPOSURE - Repeated application to human skin produced moderate irritation.
- FIRST AID - Remove contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. Wash affected
area with soap or mild detergent and large amounts of water until no
evidence of chemical remains (approximately 15-20 minutes). Get medical
attention immediately.
EYE Contact:IRRITANT.
- ACUTE EXPOSURE- Dust may cause strong irritation and redness.
- CHRONIC EXPOSURE- Repeated or prolonged Contact with irritants may cause
conjunctivitis.
- FIRST AID - Wash eyes immediately with large amounts of water or normal saline,
occasionally lifting upper and lower lids, until no evidence of chemical
remains (approximately 15-20 minutes). Get medical attention immediately.
INGESTION:
- ACUTE EXPOSURE - Large doses may cause sore throat, gastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and possible allergic reactions. A 67 kg man ingested 50 gm without ill effects.
- CHRONIC EXPOSURE - A daily intake of 4-6 grams produced no toxic effects outside of gastric irritation. Larger doses may have systemic effects similar to salicylates and may include disturbances in acid base balance, tremor and convulsions.
- FIRST AID - Treat symptomatically and supportively. Get medical attention immediately. If vomiting occurs, keep head lower than hips to prevent aspiration.
ANTIDOTE:
No specific antidote. Treat symptomatically and supportively.
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- Any generally applicable precautions for safe handling and use which are known to the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, including appropriate hygienic practices, protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment, and procedures for clean-up of spills and leaks;
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STORAGE AND DISPOSAL
Observe all federal, state and local regulations when storing or disposing
of this substance. Store away from incompatible substances.
CONDITIONS TO AVOID
May burn but does not ignite readily. Avoid Contact with strong oxidizers,
excessive heat, sparks, or open flame.
SPILL AND LEAK PROCEDURES
SOIL SPILL:
Dig holding area such as lagoon, pond or pit for containment. Use protective cover such as a plastic sheet to prevent material from
dissolving in fire extinguishing water or rain.
WATER SPILL: Use activated carbon to absorb spilled substance that is dissolved. Use mechanical dredges or lifts to extract immobilized masses of pollution and precipitates. Use suction hoses to remove trapped spill material.
OCCUPATIONAL SPILL:
Sweep up and place in suitable clean, dry containers for reclamation or later disposal. Do not flush spilled material into sewer. Keep unnecessary people away.
Reportable Quantity (RQ): 5000 pounds
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Section 304 requires
that a release equal to or greater than the reportable quantity for this
substance be immediately reported to the local emergency planning committee
and the state emergency response commission (40 CFR 355.40). If the release of
this substance is reportable under CERCLA Section 103, the National Response
Center must be notified immediately at (800) 424-8802 or (202) 426-2675 in the
metropolitan Washington, D.C. area (40 CFR 302.6).
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- Any generally applicable control measures which are known to the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, such as appropriate engineering controls, work practices, or personal protective equipment;
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
VENTILATION: Provide local exhaust ventilation. Ventilation equipment should be
explosion-proof if explosive concentrations of dust, vapor or fume are
present.
RESPIRATOR: The following respirators are recommended based on information found in the
physical data, toxicity and health effects sections. They are ranked in
order from minimum to maximum respiratory protection.
The specific respirator selected must be based on contamination levels found
in the work place, must be based on the specific operation, must not exceed
the working limits of the respirator and must be jointly approved by the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Mine Safety
and Health Administration (NIOSH-MSHA).
- Any dust and mist respirator.
- Any air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter.
- Any powered air-purifying respirator with a dust and mist filter.
- Any powered air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter.
- Any type 'C' supplied-air respirator operated in the pressure-demand or other positive pressure or continuous-flow mode.
- Any self-contained breathing apparatus.
FOR FIREFIGHTING AND OTHER IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO LIFE OR HEALTH CONDITIONS:
- Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.
- Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.
CLOTHING: Employee must wear appropriate protective (impervious) clothing and equipment
to prevent repeated or prolonged skin Contact with this substance.
GLOVES: Employee must wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent Contact with this
substance.
EYE PROTECTION: Employee must wear splash-proof or dust-resistant safety goggles to prevent
eye Contact with this substance.
- Emergency eye wash: Where there is any possibility that an employee's eyes may be exposed to this substance, the employer should provide an eye wash fountain within the immediate work area for emergency use.
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- The date of preparation of the material safety data sheet or the last change to it.
PREPARATION DOCUMENTATION
AUTHORIZED - XYZ SCIENTIFIC GROUP, INC.
CREATION DATE: 11/02/84
REVISION DATE: 12/23/93
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
THE INFORMATION BELOW IS BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE AND REPRESENTS THE BEST
INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO US. HOWEVER, WE MAKE NO WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO
SUCH INFORMATION, AND WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY RESULTING FROM ITS USE. USERS
SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF THE
INFORMATION FOR THEIR PARTICULAR PURPOSES.
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If no relevant information is found for any given category on the material safety data sheet, the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet must mark it to indicate that no applicable information was found.
MSDS Management
Here are some more important requirements manufacturers, importers and distributors must meet:
The manufacturer or importer must:
- Prepare one MSDS that applies to all similar mixtures where complex mixtures have similar hazards and contents (i.e. the chemical ingredients are essentially the same, but the specific composition varies from mixture to mixture),
- When preparing the material safety data sheet, ensure that the information recorded accurately reflects the scientific evidence used in making the hazard determination.
- When aware of any significant new information regarding the hazards of a chemical, or ways to protect against the hazards, this new information, add it to the material safety data sheet within three months.
- If the chemical is not currently being produced or imported, add any new information to the material safety data sheet before the chemical is introduced into the workplace again.
- Provide an appropriate material safety data sheet with the initial shipment, with the first shipment after a material safety data sheet is updated, and as requested by the employer or distributor;
- Provide material safety data sheets with the shipped containers or send them to the distributor or employer prior to or at the time of the shipment;
Distributors must:
- Ensure that material safety data sheets, and updated information, are provided to other distributors and employers with their initial shipment and with the first shipment after a material safety data sheet is updated;
- Either provide material safety data sheets with the shipped containers, or send them to the other distributor or employer prior to or at the time of the shipment;
- Retail distributor selling hazardous chemicals to employers having a commercial account -- provide a material safety data sheet to such employers upon request, and must post a sign or otherwise inform them that a material safety data sheet is available. If an employer without a commercial account purchases a hazardous chemical from a retail distributor not required to have material safety data sheets on file (i.e., the retail distributor does not have commercial accounts and does not use the materials), the retail distributor must provide the employer, upon request, with the name, address, and telephone number of the chemical
manufacturer, importer, or distributor from which a material safety data sheet can be obtained. Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors need not provide material safety data sheets to retail distributors that have informed them that the retail distributor does not sell the product to commercial accounts or open the sealed
container to use it in their own workplaces.
- Wholesale distributor selling hazardous chemicals to employers over-the-counter -- provide material safety data sheets upon the request of the employer at the time of the over-the-counter purchase, and post a sign or otherwise inform such employers that a material safety data sheet is available.
- Distributors and employers who in good faith choose to rely upon the MSDSs provided to them by the chemical
manufacturer/importer assume no responsibility for the content and accuracy of the MSDSs.
What about employer responsibilities?
Employers must obtain a MSDS from the chemical manufacturer or importer as soon as possible if the material safety data sheet is not provided with a shipment that has been labeled as a hazardous chemical.
Employers must maintain in the workplace copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and must ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s).
(Electronic access, microfiche, and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the material safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options.)
Where employees must travel between workplaces during a workshift, i.e., their work is carried out at more than one geographical location, the material safety data sheets may be kept at the primary workplace facility. In this situation, the employer must ensure that employees can immediately obtain the required information in an emergency.
Employees who work at more than one site during the work shift must be able to obtain MSDS
information immediately in an emergency. MSDSs may be kept at the primary workplace
facility, as long as the employer has a representative available at all times to ensure ready
access to this information. This is the only situation in which an employer is allowed to transmit
hazard information via voice communication. The employer must address in the written hazard
communication program how MSDS information will be conveyed to remote worksites.
| Material safety data sheets may be kept in any form, including operating procedures, and may be designed to cover groups of hazardous chemicals in a work area where it may be more appropriate to address the hazards of a process rather than individual hazardous chemicals.
The Hazard Communication Standard provides little information regarding formatting of an MSDS, and OSHA does not require that all MSDSs be formatted into any number of sections, but it must contain all required information.
In fact, in 1993, the ANSI Z400.1, American National Standard for Hazardous Industrial Chemicals – Material Safety Data Sheets – Preparation, was developed to address the need for a MSDS format that was comprehensive, understandable and consistent. ANSI Z400.1-1993 introduced the standardized 16-section MSDS.
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However, the employer must ensure that in all cases the required information is provided for each hazardous chemical, and is readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s). Usually MSDSs will be kept at the "Right to Know" station in a centralized location where most of the work is being accomplished. Along with the MSDSs, there must be a list of chemicals with an effective reference system to help the employee quickly locate a specific MSDS.
Well, I hope you understand the MSDS and the various requirements related to its management. As usual, read the rules and ask an OSHA consultant if you have specific questions about MSDS management at your workplace. Now it's time for the quiz, so let's go.
Take the Review Quiz
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