Safety Guideline:- MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)

www.safetygoodwe.com 

Topic : Safety Guideline

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)

INTRODUCTION 

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is detailed information prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a chemical that describes the physical and chemical properties, physical and health hazards, routes of exposure, precautions for safe handling and use, emergency and first-aid procedures, and control measures. Information on an MSDS helps in the selection of safe products and helps employers and employees to respond effectively to daily exposure situations as well as to emergency situations. This guideline explains the management of MSDS in the organization.

SCOPE 

This guideline shall be applicable for organization wherever Chemicals are used at working Environment. This includes the chemicals which are brought and used by Sub Contractors.

RESPONSIBILITY 

Managing Director shall be responsible to implement this guideline in organization. Department Line Manager shall implement this guideline in their respective work area wherever the Chemicals usage is required. Employees shall understand and comply with the MSDS. 

REQUIREMENTS

1. Organization shall maintain MSDS of all chemicals that are used for reference.
2. Jobs that involve chemicals must not be carried out without the MSDS.
3. Before use of chemicals user shall be briefed about the Health and Safety of the chemicals with the MSDS by the Line Supervisor.
4. Any Chemicals which are send to the workplace and other location shall be accompanied with the respective MSDS.
5. All respective user and the stakeholders shall ensure that all the requirements in the MSDS are implemented.
6. Location where chemicals are stored MSDS must be readily available.
7. All employees likely to contact the chemicals at work have to undergo training on MSDS awareness. This includes all organization employees.
8. Whenever there is Incident exposure to chemical First Aid must be provided immediately and send to Hospital for the Medical treatment along with the MSDS of that chemical.
9. Chemicals must be stored as specified in the MSDS with proper identification.
10. Every chemical purchased must accompany the MSDS.
11. MSDS must be studied before purchase of chemicals for its safety impact and feasibility of control measures prior to purchase to ensure that employees are safe and within acceptable risk.

Important Sections of an MSDS and Their Significance

1. Identification of the substance or mixture and of the supplier:- This describes the chemical manufacturer's name, address and emergency phone number, the chemical name, trade name, and chemical formula. It also includes the common name(s) and labels for easy identification of Material in local area.
2. Hazards Identification:- This describes the material's appearance, odour, and health, physical, and environmental hazards that may be of concern for emergency response personnel.
3. Composition/information on Ingredients:- This identifies the material by its chemical identity and the ingredients if it is a mixture. In some cases this can be expressed as generic/common name and a range of concentrations.
4. First aid measures:- This describes first aid, according to the route of exposure. This will indicate medical attention and special treatment needed including a description of the most important symptoms and it also includes advice to medically trained personnel.
5. Fire-fighting measures:- The compound's potential for fire must be described. Also, the fire hazards of the chemical and the conditions under which it could ignite or explode must be identified. Recommended extinguishing agents and fire-fighting methods and precaution must be described.
6. Accidental release measure:- This section should have information needed to prevent or minimize adverse effects on employees, neighbors, property, and the environment, including waterways. It is intended for emergency response personnel.
7. Handling and Storage:- This section provides guidelines for minimizing any potential hazards from storing the material. It should include information to minimize handling when appropriate, and conditions such as temperature, inert atmosphere, and conditions to avoid.
8. Exposure Control and Personal Protection:- This Section describes the degree of engineering control that may be needed when handling the material, and the personal protective equipment that should be used if there is a potential for exposure above the regulatory or suggested limits.
9. Physical and chemical properties:- These properties should be included to assist users to determine proper handling and storage. Appearance, odour, physical state (liquid, solid, gas), vapour pressure and density, melting and freezing point, solubility, and specific gravity should be included. Additional properties may be included if they are useful.
10. Stability and reactivity:- This section should describe conditions that may result in a potentially hazardous reaction, such as evolution of hazardous gases, production of heat, or other hazardous conditions.
11. Toxicological Information:- This section should include any known information resulting from animal testing or human experience on the toxicity of the material. Also included would be information on its potential for causing cancer. Data should be included for acute and chronic exposures.
12. Ecological Information:- This section should list impacts to the environment that may occur if the material is released to the environment, or in evaluating waste treatment practices.
13. Disposal Considerations:- This section gives guidelines for disposing of a product if it becomes a waste. Recommendations are based upon the physical state and hazardous properties of the material. If the material is designated as hazardous, it must be disposed of in a permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.If the material is non-hazardous, recommendations for disposal are made depending on the physical state and known characteristics of the material
14. Transport information:- This section should provide information concerning classification for shipping the material.
15. Regulatory Information:- This List relevant legislation in India controlling use of the chemicals (including poisons scheduling)
16. Other information including information on preparation and revision of the SDS:- This section is intended for other material the preparer feels is pertinent, and that should not be included in the other fifteen sections. For example, it may include label information, hazard ratings, revision dates, and references to other related information.

Penalty 

Non- Adherence to this guideline is an offense, if any person is noticed for non-compliance; it shall be subject to disciplinary action. This shall be reported to the concerned department Manager  and safety HSE department manager for appropriate corrective and disciplinary action.

Record Keeping 

Department Using Chemicals in their work have to maintain the MSDS records. An Updated file of all the MSDS/Records in the shall be maintained

Conclusion  

In conclusion MSDS is an Important Safety Data Sheet in the work place. It should give the proper information about the chemicals, its usage and methods to avoid any type of serious personal injury.