Basic H&S Guidelines

5.2 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Manufacturers and suppliers of chemicals are often required by law to provide their customers
with MSDSs for their products. Even in the absence of such legal obligation, factories should insist
on the receipt of the MSDS or equivalent written information for each chemical that they purchase.

The following categories of information should all be available on MSDSs:

• Substance identification: • Fire extinguishing media

o Trade name • Health effects and First Aid measures
o CAS # for each chemical ingredient o Signs and symptoms of exposure
o % of each ingredient o Effects of inhalation, ingestion, and eye
• Chemical data: and skin contact
o Molecular formula and weight o Antidotes or other treatments
• Physical data: • Safe handling, storage and disposal
o Boiling point requirements
o Melting point • Recommended spill and leak response
o Solubility procedures
o Etc. • Protective equipment
• Toxicity data o Personal protective equipment to avoid
• Occupational exposure limits exposure
• Chemical reactivity and incompatibilities o Protective measures for production
• Fire and explosion data: equipment or other factory
o Fire/explosion hazard installations
o Flash point • Additional relevant information:
o Explosive limits o Contact information for the chemical
o Ignition point/auto-ignition manufacturer/supplier
temperature o Date of the last MSDS revision

5.3 Chemical Safety Data Sheets (CSDS)

MSDSs provide detailed information on the properties of chemicals, but they may not be very useful
for advising workers in the use and handling of these chemicals. Therefore, Operation Procedures
and Chemical Safety Data Sheets (CSDS) should be created to provide brief summary information
on chemical use and handling (see Figure 5.2). These should be written in simple language that is
understandable to the workers and should be posted conspicuously at locations where the relevant
chemicals are stored or used.

It may be appropriate for different chemicals with similar properties and hazards to be described in
a single Operation Procedure, thus reducing the paperwork in the factory. Operation Procedures
are working documents and part of the H&S Management System, and as such should be kept on
file with the MSDS. They also should be posted with the related CSDS in production work areas.

Social & Environmental Affairs Page 31 of 127 Feburary 2010