What The Is A MSDS? How to Read and Interpret a Material Safety Data Sheet!

ObjectiveObjective  to concisely inform you about the hazards of materials you work with so that you can protect yourself and respond to an emergency  acts as a “crystal ball” - if you study it, you will see the future

PurposePurpose  the material’s physical properties or fast- acting health effects that make it dangerous to handle  the level of protective gear you need  the first aid treatment to be provided when you are exposed to a hazard  the preplanning needed for safely handling spills, fires, and day-to-day operations  how to respond to accidents

A Material is Considered Hazardous If--A Material is Considered Hazardous If--  specifically listed in the law, 29CFR Part 1910, Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances (the Z list)  assigned a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Inc (ACGIH)

 determined to be cancer causing, corrosive, toxic, an irritant, a sensitizer, or has damaging effects on specific body organs

The MSDS FormatThe MSDS Format  must be in English  have a heading  cover 16 different informational categories

HeadingHeading  name and address of the manufacturer  telephone numbers  transportation emergency number  nontransportation information and emergency numbers

Categories of InformationCategories of Information 1. Chemical Production Information  product name  product code  chemical family  chemical name  synonyms  formula

Chemical Product Information

Categories 2. Composition/Information on Ingredients  ingredient name  CAS number  exposure limits  concentration (%)  names of hazardous ingredients

Composition/Information on Ingredients

Categories 3. Hazards Identification  emergency overview,i.e.,Danger! Toxic  potential health effects  routes of entry  human effects & symptoms of overexposure  acute effects of overexposure  chronic effects of overexposure  carcinogenicity  medical conditions aggravated by exposure

Hazards Identification

Categories 4. First Aid Measures  first aid for eyes  first aid for skin  first aid for inhalation  first aid for ingestion  note to physician

First Aid Measures

Categories 5. Fire Fighting Measures  flash point  flammable limits  upper explosive limit (UEL)(%)  lower explosive limit (LEL)(%)  extinguishing media  special fire fighting procedures

Fire Fighting Measures

Categories 6. Accidental Release Measures  spill or leak procedures

Categories 7. Handling and Storage  storage temperature (min/max)  shelf life  special sensitivity  handling/storage precautions

Handling and Storage

Categories 8. Personal Protection  eye protection requirements  skin protection requirements  ventilation requirements  respirator requirements  medical surveillance  additional protective measures

PPE

PPE

Categories 9. Physical and Chemical Properties  physical form  color  odor  odor threshold  molecular weight  boiling point  melting/freezing point  solubility in water

 specific gravity  bulk density  % volatile by volume  vapor pressure  vapor density

Physical and Chemical Properties

Categories 10. Stability and Reactivity  stability  hazardous polymerization  incompatibilities  instability conditions  decomposition products

Stability and Reactivity

Categories 11. Toxicological Information  Acute Toxicity  oral LD50  dermal LD50  inhalation LC50  eye effects  skin effects  sensitization  Subchronic Toxicity  Chronic Toxicity

 Carcinogenicity  Mutagenicity  Developmental Toxicity  Reproduction  Neurotoxicity

Toxicological Information

Categories 12. Ecological Information

13. Disposal Information

Categories 14. Transportation Information  technical shipping name  freight class package  product label  DOT (Domestic Surface)  proper shipping name  UN/UA number  packing group  DOT product RQ lbs. (kgs)  hazard label(s)

 hazard placard(s)  IMO / IMDG Code (Ocean)  proper shipping name  hazard class division number  UN number  packing group  hazard(s)  hazard placard(s)  ICAO / IATA (Air)  proper shipping name

 hazard class division number  UN number  subsidiary risk  packing group  hazard label(s)  radioactivity  passenger air - max. qty  passenger packing instructions  cargo air - max. qty  cargo passenger packing instructions

Categories 15. Regulatory Information  OSHA status  TSCA status  CERLA Reportable Quantity  SARA Title III  Section 302 Extremely Hazardous Substances  Section 311/312 Hazard Categories  Section313  RCRA Status

Regulatory Information Regulatory Information

Categories 16. Other Information  NFPA 704M Ratings  Reason for Issue  Prepared by:  Approved by:  Title:  Approval Date:  Supersedes Date  MSDA number

Other Information

Disclaimers  no warranties, expressed or implied

MSDS  is an OSHA document  not an EPA document  not part of the labeling unless received at the time of purchase

Read The Label! READ THE LABEL!

UNDERSTAND THE LABEL

FOLLOW THE LABEL

Their Legacy is the Land. May they Find it as Beautiful and as Bountiful as their Forbearers Did

Mary L. Grodner, Ph.D. Mary L. Grodner, Ph.D. Pesticide Coordinator LSU AgCenter 225/ phone 225/ fax