REGULATIONS: DO THEY APPLY TO ME?

From the Trend Tracks Magazine...

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

MSDSs are a requirement of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. The Hazard Communication Standard, often referred to, as HazCom - was developed to ensure that employers and workers have information about the hazards of the chemicals they use at work.

Chemicals can present a wide range of hazards from mild irritation to death. The MSDS provides the information necessary to establish the right protective measures to protect the worker.

You must have an MSDS for every hazardous chemical / product you use in your business.

MSDSs can be in any format, but OSHA has two requirements for MSDSs. First, MSDSs need to be in English, and second, MSDSs must be readily accessible during each work shift. OSHA realizes that workers often travel between work locations, so the MSDSs may be kept at a central location, as long as employees have access.

The best management practice is to ensure that each tech has a full set of MSDSs in their van. Customers often ask to see the MSDS, if product is spilled on the job, the MSDS will tell the technician how to clean it up and, if the product should splash on the employee, first aid information is readily available. Prochem's MSDSs are available on our web site www.prochem.com.

So now you've read through the technical stuff, let's talk about what this means to you. First, you must have an MSDS for every hazardous chemical/product you use in your business. Remember, even water is hazardous because it can irritate your skin and eyes. The MSDS must be readily available to all your employees (in a binder or file). If you don't have any employees you still need the MSDS for your protection. You can obtain Prochem MSDS by visiting our web site at www.prochem.com or from your distributor.

You need to read the product's MSDS before using the product to find out what safety precautions you should use. You may need safety glasses and gloves, or even a respirator. You may need to be careful about what temperatures you use the product, or to be sure to keep the product away from any ignition sources (gas appliances, gas water heaters, etc.). Check to make sure the product is compatible with the other products you intend to use on the job. If someone seems to have a reaction to the product, the MSDS will give you information on how to treat the victim.

The MSDS is written in sections. Below are the OSHA guidelines sections for a MSDS and what information it contains.

Section 1 - Identification of substance and manufacturer, emergency information and a 24/7 contact for assistance.

Section 2 - Composition of the substance - lists the hazardous components.

Section 3 - Hazards identification - summarizes the major hazards associated with the substance.

Section 4 - First aid measures - what to do if someone is having a reaction to the substance, or if it splashes in their eyes, or perhaps they accidentally drink the substance.

Section 5 - Fire fighting measures - lists the flash point (FP) of the substance and any special requirements in case of fire.

Section 6 - Accidental release measures - explains what to do if you spill the chemical, how to clean it up and what to do with the material cleaned up.

Section 7 - Handling and storage - explains in special handling or storage issues.

Section 8 - Exposure controls and personal protection - information on the personal protective equipment (PPE) that should
be worn while using this substance and what type of ventilation is necessary.

Section 9 - Physical and Chemical properties - describes the form of the substance, (liquid or powder), what color it is and the fragrance or odor of the substance, lists the pH of the undiluted product and often gives the melting point and boiling point and the specific gravity (how much it weighs per gallon).

Section 10 - Stability and reactivity - explains how stable the substance is or if there is anything the substance might act unfavorably to.

Section 11 - Toxicological information - describes the risks that you may be exposed to when using the substance.

• Acute toxicity means damage happens almost immediately.
• Chronic toxicity means damage happens over time or can take several weeks to years for the damage to appear.

Section 12 - Ecological information - explains what happens to the environment if this substance is released into a water system or dumped on the ground.

Section 13 - Disposal Considerations - explains how to dispose of unused product.

Section 14 - Transportation information - explains how to ship the substance and how it should be marked and labeled. Prochem's MSDS refer you to the shipping papers because the same product might be packaged in pints, quarts, gallons, pails or drums, each size might have different shipping requirements.

Section 15 - Regulations - lists any regulations that apply to this chemical.

Section 16 - Other information - lists the name or position of the person preparing the date sheet, and the disclaimer statement.

As you can see, there is a lot of information on the MSDS. Because of this, the MSDS should be one of the tools you use daily.