A material safety data sheet is a technical document which provides detailed and comprehensive information on a controlled product related to:
Health effects of exposure to the product
Hazard evaluation related to the product’s handling, storage or use
Measure to protect workers at risk of exposure
Emergency procedures.
The data sheet may be written, printed or otherwise expressed, and must meet the availability, design and content requirements of legislation. The legislation provides for flexibility of design and wording but requires that a minimum number of categories of information be completed and that all hazardous ingredients meeting certain criteria be listed subject to exemptions granted under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act.
Categories :
Section 1—Identification—includes product identifier, manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number, emergency phone number, recommended use, and restrictions on use
Section 2—Hazard(s) identification—includes all hazards regarding the chemical and required label elements
Section 3—Composition/Information on ingredients—includes information on chemical ingredients and trade secret claims
Section 4—First-aid measures—includes important immediate or delayed symptoms of exposure to a chemical and the required first aid treatment
Section 5—Fire-fighting measures—lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment, and chemical hazards from fire
Section 6—Accidental release measures—lists emergency procedures, protective equipment, and proper methods of containment and cleanup
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, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
Section 9—Physical and chemical properties—lists the chemical’s characteristics
Section 10—Stability and reactivity—lists chemical stability and possible hazardous reactions
Section 11—Toxicological information—includes routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or absorption contact), symptoms, acute and chronic effects, and numerical measures of toxicity
Section 12—Ecological information—how the chemical might affect the environment and the duration of the effect
Section 13—Disposal considerations—describes safe handling of wastes and methods of disposal, including the disposal of any contaminated packaging
Section 14—Transportation information—includes packing, marking, and labeling requirements for hazardous chemical shipments
Section 15—Regulatory information—indicates regulations that apply to chemical
Section 16—Other information—includes date of preparation or last revision
Labels
Product identifier gives a name or number that enables you to identify the chemical and cross-reference the label to the SDS.
Supplier information tells you the name, address, and phone number of the manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party.
First aid information can help you act quickly and effectively in an emergency.
In case of fire, the label tells you how to extinguish it.
Signal word indicates the severity of the hazard.
Hazard statements describe the nature of the hazards.
Pictograms convey specific hazard information using symbols or graphics.
Precautionary statements describe recommended measures to minimize or prevent injury or illness due to exposure to the chemical or from improper handling or storage.