MSDS: What Are Material Safety Data Sheets

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is required under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (regulations), with guidance for employers (guidelines). The MSDS is a detailed informational document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a hazardous chemical.  It describes the physical and chemical properties of the product. MSDS’s contain useful information such as flash point, toxicity, procedures for spills and leaks, and storage guidelines. For an explanation of the terms used in MSDS's, click here. Information included in a Material Safety Data Sheet aids in the selection of safe products, helps you understand the potential health and physical hazards of a chemical and describes how to respond effectively to exposure situations. Although there is an effort currently underway to standardizes MSDS’s the quality of individual MSDS’s vary. A MSDS may be useful but it can not substitute for prudent practices and comprehensive risk management.

If you need to write an msds see: How to Create an MSDS for Your Company's Product

For commercial product MSDS's - if you have a commercial product or formulation, rather than a simple, single chemical compound click this link for the products Material Safety Data Sheets, listed by manufacturer!

General Guidance and Directions

ANSI Version

The numbering in these directions applies to the ANSI version of MSDS, which is the preferred format (also used by Canada), (see How to Create an MSDS for Your Company's Product ) but the differences are trivial and the directions are applicable to both MSDS's. Remember, in the United States, OSHA does not specific a particular format for the MSDS, only the content.

Here is a sample of the the new MSDS form, for free (right click and select "save target as" if you want to save a copy to your hard drive, where you can open it and work on it). 

Section 1. Chemical product and company identification

Links the MSDS to the material. Identifies the supplier of the MSDS. Identifies a source for more information. You must include the manufacturer’s name.

Section 2. Composition/information on ingredients

Lists the OSHA hazardous components May also list significant nonhazardous components. May also include additional information about components (e.g., exposure guidelines)

You can patent your product to protect the contents, but you must disclose all hazardous constituents.

Section 3. Hazards identification, including emergency overview

Provides information on the potential adverse human health effects and symptoms that might result from reasonably foreseeable use and misuse of the material. May provide emergency overview.

Typically, this section is brief, one or two paragraphs.

Section 4. First aid measures

Provides instructions to be taken if accidental exposure requires immediate treatment. May also include instructions to medical professionals. This should include specific instructions to medical professionals; not general platitudes, like “seek medical help” or “apply CPR”

Section 5. Fire fighting measures

Provides basic fire fighting guidance, including appropriate extinguishing media. Describes other fire and explosive properties useful for avoiding and fighting fires involving the material, such as flash point or explosive limits.

Section 6. Accidental release measures

Describes actions to be taken to minimize the adverse effects of an accidental spell, leak or release of the material.

Section 7. Handling and storage

Provides information on appropriate practices for safe handling and storage.

Section 8. Exposure controls/personal protection

Provides information on practices, or equipment, or both, that are useful in minimizing worker exposure. May also include exposure guidelines. Provides guidance on personal protective equipment.

Section 9. Physical and chemical properties

Provides additional data that can be used to help characterize the material and design safe work practices.

Section 10. Stability and reactivity

Describes the conditions to be avoided or other materials that may cause a reaction that would change the intrinsic stability of the material.

Section 11. Toxicological information

May be used to provide background toxicological information on the material, its compounds, or both.

Section 12. Ecological information

May be used to provide information on the effects the material may have on plants or animals and on the material's environmental fate.

Section 13. Disposal considerations

May provide information that is useful in determining appropriate disposal measures.

Section 14. Transport information

May provide basic shipping classification information. [Comment: If any specific transportation label is required state it here. For bulk chemicals include the UN number. Otherwise just say "May be shipped normally as a nonhazardous matererial"

Section 15. Regulatory information

May be used to proved any additional information on regulations affecting the material.

Section 16. Other information

May be used to provide any additional information. [Comment: If you must include useless denials of responsibility, keep them confined to this section]