Understanding the Material Safety Data Sheet.

Dissemination of MSDS information is a "right to know " management obligation to employees and community agencies.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) documents mandated by federal law to be distributed by chemical manufacturers to users of their products.

In turn, users are obligated to inform employees and community services (fire, police, health services) what chemicals are being used, warning them of hazardous conditions that may arise. MSDSs are an important part of a foundry's labor and civic safety communications.

An MSDS documents dangers, controls and use for every chemical that is listed by OSHA as hazardous. Each MSDS is required to be readily available and understood by all who are or may be in contact directly or indirectly with any of the chemicals. It is the responsibility of the employer to maintain an MSDS file for immediate reference by employees.

The information in each MSDS is organized into 15 specific sections. Following is a brief description of each.

Section I: Product Identification - product name, code, file number and revision number identifies each MSDS. The chemical family or name and synonyms are noted and, where applicable, the formula. A brief use description and the OSHA Hazard Classifications complete this section.

Section II: Component Data - All products are evaluated to degree of hazard. According to OSHA, a hazardous chemical refers to one that presents a physical or health hazard. A chemical may be a physical hazard if it is combustible, flammable, pyrophoric, chemically unstable, water reactive, explosive, a compressed gas, an organic peroxide or other oxidizer. It may be a health hazard if exposure could result in acute or chronic adverse health effects.

This definition of hazardous material has been adapted from the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910,1200) and is a reference for further details. Nonhazardous products are so identified. If a product is a health hazard, all components of the material that present a health hazard and that comprise 1% or more of the material are listed. Any component noted as a carcinogen is listed if it comprises 0.1% or more of the product. Products that pose a physical hazard and any component of them are also listed.

Normally, the chemical name and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number are used to identify a component. CAS numbers are assigned to chemicals and mixtures by the CAS (published by the American Chemical Society) is a specific identification.

Though not always available for a mixture, CAS numbers are stated where available. If a component is a trade secret, a descriptive name is used instead of the chemical one and a trade secret access number is given. The identify of the trade secret component is available to health professionals upon request, subject to the conditions specified in the Standard.

Section III: Precautions for Safe Handling and Storage - this section provides vital information for handling and storing a product.

Section IV: Physical Data - Knowledge of the physical properties of a substance is necessary for all safety and industrial hygiene decisions. Some of the key terms that apply to the physical data include freezing/melting points, boiling point, decomposition temperature, specific gravity, bulk density, pH, vapor pressure, solubility in water, volatiles, percent by volume, evaporation rate, vapor density, molecular weight and coefficient of oil/water distribution.

Section V: Personal Protective Equipment Requirements - The proper use of personal protective equipment is critical. Descriptions of specific equipment (goggles, gloves, respirators, etc.) required for routine use are also listed here. Additional protective equipment, as required for firefighting and for spill and leak cleanup, is outlined in Spill and Leak Procedures (Section XI).

Some products may require specific ventilation requirements per the following definitions:

* General exhaust: a system for exhausting air-containing contaminants from a general work area; also referred to as dilution ventilation.

* Local exhaust: a system for capturing and exhausting contaminants from the air at the point where the contaminants are produced (welding, grinding, sanding, other processes or operations.)

Section VI: Fire and Explosion Hazard Information - The recommended extinguishing media to be used in the event of a fire and those required for unusual fires and explosion hazards are provided here. This section relies to a large degree on two types of ratings.

NFPA Rating: the National Fire Protection Association Standard System for the Identification of the Fire Hazards of Materials - NFPA No. 704. The NFPA ratings provide a general overview of the hazards associated with a material relative to fire protection and control. The standard addresses the hazards under the three categories of health, flammability and reactivity, and assigns numeric ratings using a scale of 0-4 (0 indicating no particular hazard and 4 the most hazardous). It should be noted that health hazard ratings refer specifically to short-term exposure under fire conditions. The standard also makes provisions for special hazard warnings, such as water reactivity. Further details are available in the Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials.

HMIS Rating: The Hazard Materials identification System of the National Paint and Coatings Assn. is similar to the NFPA Standard (0-4) scale. It rates the degree of hazard under the same three categories of health, flammability and reactivity, with 0 being the least and 4 the most hazardous. Unlike NFPA ratings, HMIS ratings are not intended for emergency situations. The flammability and reactivity ratings, however, usually are the same as the NFPA ratings. The health hazard rating is based on the acute toxicity of a chemical. For further information, contact the National Paint and Coating Assn.

Section VII: Reactivity Information - A substance is said to be reactive if it readily enters into chemical reactions and undergoes chemical change. For MSDS purposes, the reactions can be grouped into three broad categories:

* Decomposition: the chemical breakdown of a material into stable or unstable parts or simpler compounds.

* Polymerization: a chemical reaction in which small molecules combine to form larger molecules.

* Reactions with other chemicals: any other chemical reaction.

Section VIII: First Aid - First-aid procedures are described for each of the normal routes of exposure. It is important that first aid be administered as soon as possible after an exposure. A physician should be called if doubt exists regarding a victim's condition .

Section IX: Toxicology and Health Information - The consequences of exposure by inhalation, skin or eye contact or ingestion are outlined in this section. The signs, symptoms and effects of exposure are described so that any exposure can be recognized quickly and appropriate action taken. Organs most susceptible to attack are called target organs. The effects, damage and symptoms of exposure on these organs are given.

Section X: Transportation Information - Material regulated as hazardous by DOT are covered under the Hazardous Materials Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, 49 Chapter 1 subchapter C. in an emergency, CHEMTREC (Chemical Transportation Emergency Center) should be contacted. It is a national center established by the Chemical Manufacturer Assn. to relay pertinent emergency information concerning specific chemicals. CHEMTREC has a 24-hourtoll-free telephone number (800/424-9300) for use in chemical transportation emergencies.

Section XI: Spill and Leak Procedures - During cleanup of spills or leaks, it may be necessary to use extra personal protective equipment. Recommendations for equipment use are additional to what is described in personal protective equipment requirements noted above. Procedural recommendations relative to air, land and water are described.

Section XII: Waste Disposal - This section gives guidelines for disposing of a product if it becomes a waste. They are based on the physical state and hazardous properties of the material. If the material is designated as hazardous by 40 CFR Part 261, it must be disposed of in a permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facility in accordance with local, state and federal regulations. Disposal of nonhazardous material is made depending on physical state and known characteristics.

Section XIII: Additional Regulatory Information - Information relevant to compliance with other federal and/or state laws such as Toxic Substance Control Act, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, Food and Drug Administration, Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act 313, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act are contained here.

Section XIV: Additional Information - Relevant additional information is given in this section.

Section XV: Major References - This section lists some of the major references that have been consulted in preparing the Material Safety Data Sheet. The information is presented to further explain the use and information listed on MSDSs for the materials in your facility. These MSDSs should be consulted regularly to provide worker and plant safety.