An MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet is a nine-section chemical safety document detailing the toxicity, use, storage, handling and emergency procedures of hazardous substances. MSDS information describes chemical safety and hazards that may be involved with the hazardous substance and safety measures that should be taken in order to minimize or avoid adverse outcomes that may result from chemical exposure, hazards in the workplace, improper storage or handling of hazardous materials, chemicals in the workplace, or chemicals hazards.

MSDS information is intended to provide employees and emergency personnel with chemical safety measures for handling or working with reactive chemicals, hazardous chemicals, hazardous substances, and dangerous materials in a safe manner. In accordance with the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard, anyone who might handle, work with chemicals or be exposed to hazardous materials must have access to a Material Safety Data Sheet’s chemical safety information.

MSDS Authoring Services’ standard MSDS preparation service includes the full creation of a 16-part ANSI compliant MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet (more than what is currently required by OSHA). View sample MSDS information sheets below.

Sample MSDS Data Sheets
 

• MSDS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – NASA Standard 6001 Igniter
   

Currently, OSHA is working on implementing the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), a system that will provide a basis for synchronization of GHS MSDS information sheets by specifying rules and regulations on hazardous substances, chemicals in the workplace, chemical safety and hazard, and hazardous materials at national, regional and worldwide levels. When the GHS effort becomes law, the Material Safety Data Sheet information must comply with the new GHS standard.

Sample Globally Harmonized System Compliant Material Safety Data Sheets
 

• GHS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – Dimethylformamide (DMF)
• GHS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – Ferric Sulfate
• GHS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – Hydrogen Peroxide
• GHS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – N-Methylpyrrolidinone (NMP)
• GHS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – Piperidine
• GHS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – Sulfuric Acid
• GHS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – Trifluoroacetic Acid
   

The American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) Standard Z400.1-2004 “Hazardous Industrial Chemicals – Material Safety Data Sheets – Preparation” is the current voluntary MSDS standard commonly used to create an MSDS sheet. OSHA now recommends that the ANSI MSDS standard be used, but they cannot require it without federal regulation changes.

Refer to OSHA Form 174 below for an example of an ANSI compliant Material Safety Data Sheet MSDS sheet.
 

• OSHA Form 174 (OMB No. 1218-0072) 8 Part MSDS
   

To learn more about OSHA MSDS rules, click here.