What is MSDS ?

MSDS or a Material Safety Data Sheet is the documentation of all the information on the potential hazards imposed by a chemical product or substance whenever they are used by people. The dangers primarily include fire hazards, effects of radioactivity, environmental hazards and other possible harm to the health of a human being. Not just the information about the potential dangers, an MSDS is supposed to contain information regarding the proper handling of the chemical substances or product to avoid the hazards and also information on steps that need to be taken in case of the occurrence of any of the hazards.

Who needs the MSDS ? The MSDS is a document that can be allowed to access by everyone. However, an ordinary consumer doesn’t have a direct interaction with a chemical substance and thus, needn’t necessarily have a deeper understanding of the MSDS (a knowledge about the hazards of these substances isn’t bad though). Workers or employees who have come in contact with these chemical substances on a day-to-day basis needs to have a thorough understanding of the MSDS and must always carry a copy of it along too. Such employees include the ones working in any chemical manufacturing factory, cleaning industry, recycling industry and so on.

How to find an MSDS ? An MSDS should be available in every workplace pertaining to chemical industry or an industry whose employees work involves a close contact with chemical substances and products. In case of non-availability of Material Safety Data Sheets in the workplace, the supplier of the material or substance should be contacted and asked to provide a MSDS.

It’s crucial to train the employees as to how to use the MSDS. Mere distribution of MSDS won’t assure safety. Thus, an effective and informative training session is necessary.

Article by Anirban Bhattacharya

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