UNDERSTANDING SAFETY DATA SHEETS WHAT IS A SAFETY

UNDERSTANDING SAFETY DATA SHEETS

WHAT IS A SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS)? THE SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS) IS A DETAILED BULLETIN PREPARED BY THE MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR, OR IMPORTER OF A CHEMICAL THAT DESCRIBES ITS PROPERTIES, HAZARDS, PRECAUTIONS, AND CONTROL MEASURES. THE INFORMATION ON AN SDS AIDS IN THE SELECTION OF SAFE PRODUCTS AND HELPS PREPARE BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO ROUTINE EXPOSURE AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

WHAT IS A SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS)? SAFETY DATA SHEET OR SDS IS THE NEW NAME FOR WHAT USED TO BE CALLED A MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET OR MSDS. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE NEWER SDS IS MOSTLY THE SAME AS THE MSDS, BUT IT IS PRESENTED IN A MORE CONSISTENT, USERFRIENDLY FORMAT. THE FOLLOWING SCREENS SUMMARIZE THE 16 SECTIONS OF THIS NEW FORMAT.

WHAT INFORMATION IS ON AN SDS? • SECTION 1, IDENTIFICATION INCLUDES PRODUCT IDENTIFIER; MANUFACTURER OR DISTRIBUTOR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER; EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER; RECOMMENDED USE; RESTRICTIONS ON USE. • SECTION 2, HAZARD(S) IDENTIFICATION INCLUDES ALL HAZARDS REGARDING THE CHEMICAL; REQUIRED LABEL ELEMENTS. • SECTION 3, COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS INCLUDES INFORMATION ON CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS; TRADE SECRET CLAIMS.

WHAT INFORMATION IS ON AN SDS? • SECTION 4, FIRST-AID MEASURES INCLUDES IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS/ EFFECTS, ACUTE, DELAYED; REQUIRED TREATMENT. • SECTION 5, FIRE-FIGHTING MEASURES LISTS SUITABLE EXTINGUISHING TECHNIQUES, EQUIPMENT; CHEMICAL HAZARDS FROM FIRE. • SECTION 6, ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES LISTS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES; PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT; PROPER METHODS OF CONTAINMENT AND CLEANUP.

WHAT INFORMATION IS ON AN SDS? • SECTION 7, HANDLING AND STORAGE LISTS PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING AND STORAGE, INCLUDING INCOMPATIBILITIES. • SECTION 8, EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION LISTS OSHA'S PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMITS (PELS); THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES (TLVS); APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING CONTROLS; PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE).

WHAT INFORMATION IS ON AN SDS? • SECTION 9, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES LISTS THE CHEMICAL'S CHARACTERISTICS. • SECTION 10, STABILITY AND REACTIVITY LISTS CHEMICAL STABILITY AND POSSIBILITY OF HAZARDOUS REACTIONS. • SECTION 11, TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION INCLUDES ROUTES OF EXPOSURE; RELATED SYMPTOMS, ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECTS; NUMERICAL MEASURES OF TOXICITY.

WHAT INFORMATION IS ON AN SDS? • SECTION 12, ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION* • SECTION 13, DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS* • SECTION 14, TRANSPORT INFORMATION* • SECTION 15, REGULATORY INFORMATION* *NOTE: SINCE OTHER AGENCIES REGULATE THIS INFORMATION, OSHA DOES NOT ENFORCE SECTIONS 12 THROUGH 15(29 CFR 1910. 1200(G)(2)).

WHAT INFORMATION IS ON AN SDS? • SECTION 16, OTHER INFORMATION, INCLUDES THE DATE OF PREPARATION OR LAST REVISION. EMPLOYERS MUST ENSURE THAT SAFETY DATA SHEETS ARE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES

SAFETY DATA SHEET EXAMPLE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT SAFETY DATA SHEETS, WE’VE CHOSEN A CHEMICAL COMPOUND THAT MOST PEOPLE USE EVERY DAY. IT CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED A HAZARDOUS PRODUCT, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU USE IT OR MISUSE IT. WHAT IS IT? DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE

HAZARDS OF DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE IT CAN CAUSE: • SEVERE TISSUE DAMAGE • NAUSEA • VOMITING • DEATH IT IS EVEN FOUND IN TUMORS OF TERMINAL CANCER PATIENTS

USES OF DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE • EACH OF US IS A PRIMARY USER OF THE COMPOUND. IN FACT, WE CAN’T SURVIVE WITHOUT IT • IT IS OFTEN USED AS AN ADDITIVE IN FOODS • THE COMPOUND IS ALSO KNOWN AS HYDROXYL ACID WHAT ON EARTH CAN IT BE?

YES, IT’S WATER. H 20

WHAT WOULD BE THE SDS FOR WATER? SECTION 1: PRODUCT AND CO. INFO

WHAT WOULD BE THE SDS FOR WATER? SECTIONS 2 -4 : COMPOSITION, HAZARDS, FIRST AID

WHAT WOULD BE THE SDS FOR WATER? SECTIONS 5 -8: OTHER MEASURES, HANDLING, PROTECTION

WHAT WOULD BE THE SDS FOR WATER? SECTIONS 9 -10: PROPERTIES AND STABILITY

WHAT WOULD BE THE SDS FOR WATER? SECTIONS 11 -14: TOXICOLOGY, DISPOSAL & TRANSPORT

WHAT WOULD BE THE SDS FOR WATER? SECTIONS 15 -16: REGULATORY & OTHER INFO

LESSONS TO LEARN • READ SAFETY DATA SHEETS - KNOW ABOUT THE CHEMICALS YOU’RE USING • ASK IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND • READING IS ONLY HALF THE ANSWER • KEEP AN OPEN MIND • LISTEN • DON’T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS • LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

WHATEVER YOU ARE USING… USE IT SAFELY AND WISELY, OR YOU COULD END UP LIKE DUDLEY