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Material Safety Data Sheets, commonly called
MSDS's, have come to be very important documents.
Every workplace should have readily-accessible
MSDS's for all the hazardous materials which are
used or stored there.
First of all, the time to become familiar with
a material's MSDS is before you begin using
the material. If you have responsibility for
procuring hazardous material, you should obtain an
advance copy of the MSDS to review the safety
information before the order is placed. Many
companies and other institutions require approval
of hazardous materials before they are purchased.
The MSDS contains information which is very useful
in the approval process.
Once a material is brought into the workplace,
everyone who uses it should review the MSDS. You
wouldn't want to wait for an emergency to learn
about the material's hazardous properties! Suppose
the material catches fire. The MSDS specifies
fire-fighting procedures for the material.
However, your chances of successfully
extinguishing the blaze are very small if you
waste valuable time running to review the MSDS!
There are also other very good reasons to
review the MSDS before using a material. By doing
so you will learn what personal protective
equipment is required when using the material. You
will also learn what conditions to avoid when
working with the material, such as heat and
sparks. MSDS's also tell you what materials should
not be brought into contact with the hazardous
material. The MSDS also provides valuable
information for storage and disposal of the
material.
The information on an MSDS is typically grouped
into these categories:
- hazard ratings, such as NFPA (National Fire
Protection) ratings
- name and address of the material's
manufacturer or importer
- identity; by common name, synonyms, and
chemical abstract number of the material
- physical and chemical characteristics, such
as the material's appearance, odor, specific
gravity, and melting point
- fire and explosion data, such as the
material's flash point, explosion hazards, and
recommended fire extinguishing media
- physical hazards, such as the material's
stability, incompatible material information,
and hazardous decomposition products
- health hazards, such as inhalation and
ingestion hazards, carcinogen classification,
and basic first aid information
- special precautions and spill or leak
procedures such as storage, clean-up, and
disposal information
- special protection information such as
personal protective equipment recommendations
MSDS's contain a wealth of useful information
for you to use when working with a hazardous
material. Remember, the best time to learn the
content of the MSDS is before you use the
material. Another thing to be aware of is that
mistakes can and do happen. If you are using a
material that doesn't seem to fit the description
on its MSDS, do not use the material but contact
your site's safety personnel immediately. There
could have been a mix-up in the labeling or the
information on the MSDS. The material may also be
out-of-spec and could be dangerous to use as you
were planning
MSDS's have proven to be very
valuable tools in protecting people from hazards.
They provide a wealth of information in a
convenient form. But MSDS's are only as useful as
you make them. Take the time to review the MSDS's
for every hazardous material you use. |
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