MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS

By Michael McCann, Ph.D., C.I.H.



   This data sheet is adapted from the MSDS section of the second

edition of Dr. McCann's Artist Beware, Lyons and Burford

Publishers, New York, 1992.

   Schools, colleges, theaters, museums and other employers must

obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) on all hazardous

products, according to OSHA's Hazard Communication Program.  (See

CSA's data sheet on the OSHA Hazard Communication Program.) 

MSDSs should be stored centrally, as well as in the area where

the product is used.  I recommend storing the MSDSs in a three-

ring binder for easy access.



WHO PRODUCES MSDSs?



   MSDSs are produced by the manufacturer or importer of 

hazardous products.  MSDSs are not required for non-hazardous

products, although many manufacturers of art materials provide

MSDSs for their nonhazardous products, with a statement saying

the product is nonhazardous.  The manufacturer must provide

distributors and other customers with MSDSs, upon first purchase

of a hazardous product, and if the MSDS changes.  Distributors of

hazardous chemicals must automatically provide MSDSs to

commercial customers, including colleges.



UNDERSTANDING MSDSs



   OSHA provides a standard form for MSDSs (OSHA 174). 

Manufacturers are not required to use this format as long as all

the required information is present.  The MSDS must be in English

and must have no blank spaces.  

   The following gives information on what should be contained in

the various sections of a MSDS.



Identity

   The identity of the product should be the same name as found

on the product label.



Section I

   The MSDS must have the name, address, and telephone number of

the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer or other

responsible party preparing the MSDS who can give further

information on the product hazards and emergency procedures.  It

must also give the date of preparation of the most recent

version.  



Section II - Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information

   This section must include the chemical and common names of

hazardous ingredients.  For mixtures that have been tested as a

whole, only the ingredients found to be hazardous must be listed.



If the mixture has not been tested, all toxic ingredients at a

concentration more than 1% must be listed, and all carcinogenic

ingredients at concentrations over 0.1%.     Materials are

considered hazardous if they are listed in OSHA's Z list (29 CFR

1910, Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances), if the American

Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has assigned a

Threshold Limit Value (TLV) to the material, or if it has been

found to be toxic, carcinogenic, irritating, sensitizing or

damaging to certain body organs.  The MSDS does not have to list

the percentage concentration of each ingredient.

   This section must also have the OSHA Permissible Exposure

Limit (PEL), the ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) or any other

exposure limit used by the manufacturer.

   The one exception to listing the chemical names or common

names of hazardous ingredients, according to OSHA, is if the

manufacturers claims and is able to document it is a trade

secret.  In this case, they must state on the MSDS that the

identity of the ingredients is a trade secret. 



Section III - Physical/Chemical Characteristics

   This section should include information on boiling point,

vapor pressure, vapor density, solubility in water, specific

gravity, percent volatile, evaporation rate and appearance and

odor.  Sometimes the pH is included for aqueous solutions.



Section IV - Fire and Explosion Hazard Data

   This section has information on the flammability of the

product, on types of fire extinguishers needed, and on other

special precautions.  This data is important when planning for

emergencies.



Section V - Reactivity Data

   This section tells you about the product's compatibility with

other chemicals, and special conditions to avoid.  The stability

of the product indicates whether the product can decompose and

what conditions can do this.  The incompatibility section tells

you what chemicals can react with the product.  This section is

very important in determining what materials you should not store

near this product.  Hazardous decomposition products tells you

what hazardous chemicals can be produced when the product is

heated or burned.  The hazardous polymerization section tells you

whether the product can polymerize, and what conditions can cause

this.



Section VI - Health Hazard Data

   This section should tell you the routes (skin contact,

inhalation, ingestion) by which the product can affect you, the

symptoms of overexposure, acute and chronic health effects,

emergency first aid measures, and carcinogenicity.  If the

product, or chemicals in the product, has been found to be a

carcinogen or probable carcinogen by the International Agency for

Research on Cancer or OSHA, or is listed in the National

Toxicology Program's Annual Report on Carcinogens, then the MSDS

must state so.  The MSDS should also list medical conditions

which could be aggravated by exposure to the product.



Section VII - Precautions for Safe Handling and Use

   This section covers such topics as spill control, waste

disposal, storage and handling precautions, and other special

precautions such as personal protective equipment needed for

spills.  Unfortunately, the section on waste disposal often just

says dispose of according to local, state and federal

regulations.   



Section VIII - Control Measures

   This section should give you a lot of information about

respirators, ventilation and other personal protective equipment,

but often doesn't.  The respirator recommendations should state

what type of cartridge should be used.  The ventilation section

should tell you whether general mechanical ventilation (dilution

ventilation) is sufficient, or if local exhaust ventilation is

recommended, and if so, what type.  This section should also list

other recommended personal protective equipment such as gloves,

goggles and protective clothing.  Unfortunately most MSDSs do not

tell you what type of glove to use.  





(c) Copyright Center for Safety in the Arts 1992