126 Section 3 Selecting Appropriate Materials
In order to comply with the law, companies
must prepare a written hazard communication plan,
keep an up-to-date inventory of hazardous chemi-
cals or products used in the facility, label contain-
ers stored in inventory, prepare and post Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and provide training
to employees on the handling of hazardous chemical
and products. This includes proper training on fac-
tors such as melting point, boiling point, flash point,
toxicity, health effects, first aid treatment, storage
and disposal, protective equipment, and spill-proof
leakproof containers. The Occupational Safety and
Health Act defines an MSDS as “A compilation of
information on the identity of hazardous chemicals,
health, and physical hazards, exposure limits, and
precautions.”
Material Safety Data Sheets do not have to be
prepared for all industrial materials. The following
materials do not require MSDSs:
• Materials not chemically or physically hazard-
ous, such as water, ice, saline solution, water
emulsion-based white glue (most things that
are formed using pressure, heated, or eaten are
exempt).
• Drugs in solid, tablet, or capsule form.
• Solid products such as tools, electronic com-
ponents, fasteners, or fabricated parts that do
not require processes that create toxic dust or
fumes. Some metals do not require an MSDS.
However, galvanized steel has a zinc coating
that gives off toxic fumes during welding.
Galvanized steel requires an MSDS to provide
information to the welder.
• Consumer products housed in the same pack-
ing container are protected by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission, not OSHA. There
fore, an MSDS would not be required. Protection
would be covered on the product label.
A Materials Safety Data Sheet contains detailed
information on the hazards of materials or products.
MSDSs must be available to all employees at the
worksite during each shift. Information required by
OSHA on each MSDS is as follows:
• Section 1: Chemical Identity (Using both chemi-
cal and common names)
• Section 2: Hazardous ingredients
• Section 3: Physical and Chemical Characteristics
• Section 4: Fire and Explosion Data
• Section 5: Reactivity Data (How it reacts to other
chemicals)
• Section 6: Health Hazards
• Section 7: Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
• Section 8: Control Measures
The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) is currently working on a project
to develop International Chemical Safety Cards. The proj-
ect is being developed by the International Programme
on Chemical Safety (IPCS) in collaboration with the
Commission of the European Communities. The IPCS
is a joint venture of three International Organizations:
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
the International Labour Office (ILO), and the World
Health Organization (WHO). The major goal of the
IPCS is to evaluate and provide information on haz-
ards posed by chemicals to human health and the
environment. Over 1,600 International Chemical
Safety Cards are available in English.
International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
provide important health and safety information
on the chemicals for use by workers and employers.
These cards provide information on hazards posed
by the chemical and the risks for producing and using
the chemical substance. The identification of the
chemicals on the cards is based on the UN numbers,
the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number and
the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances
(RTECS/NIOSH) numbers. UN numbers are four-
digit numbers that identify hazardous substances
and products that have commercial importance. This
numbering classification is used in international
commerce to label contents in shipping containers.
Similarities and differences of Material Safety Data
Sheets and International Chemical Safety Cards are
shown in Figure 8-4.
Title 1 of the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act mandated OSHA to develop-
ment training requirements for employees handling
hazardous wastes. OSHA developed the 1910.120 CFR
standard, commonly known as Hazwoper (Hazardous
Waste Operations and Emergency Response
Standard). The standard requires employees to com-
plete a minimum 40-hour off-site training course with
at least three days of on-the-job training before they are
permitted to handle hazardous wastes. Supervisors of
these workers must also receive 40 hours of training.
Employers are also required to prepare and
follow a written hazardous communication plan.
This must provide an inventory of the hazardous
chemicals or products in each department or work
area, and show how the employer informs employ-
ees of the hazards associated with the materials. The
employer must also be able to provide, on written
In order to comply with the law, companies
must prepare a written hazard communication plan,
keep an up-to-date inventory of hazardous chemi-
cals or products used in the facility, label contain-
ers stored in inventory, prepare and post Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and provide training
to employees on the handling of hazardous chemical
and products. This includes proper training on fac-
tors such as melting point, boiling point, flash point,
toxicity, health effects, first aid treatment, storage
and disposal, protective equipment, and spill-proof
leakproof containers. The Occupational Safety and
Health Act defines an MSDS as “A compilation of
information on the identity of hazardous chemicals,
health, and physical hazards, exposure limits, and
precautions.”
Material Safety Data Sheets do not have to be
prepared for all industrial materials. The following
materials do not require MSDSs:
• Materials not chemically or physically hazard-
ous, such as water, ice, saline solution, water
emulsion-based white glue (most things that
are formed using pressure, heated, or eaten are
exempt).
• Drugs in solid, tablet, or capsule form.
• Solid products such as tools, electronic com-
ponents, fasteners, or fabricated parts that do
not require processes that create toxic dust or
fumes. Some metals do not require an MSDS.
However, galvanized steel has a zinc coating
that gives off toxic fumes during welding.
Galvanized steel requires an MSDS to provide
information to the welder.
• Consumer products housed in the same pack-
ing container are protected by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission, not OSHA. There
fore, an MSDS would not be required. Protection
would be covered on the product label.
A Materials Safety Data Sheet contains detailed
information on the hazards of materials or products.
MSDSs must be available to all employees at the
worksite during each shift. Information required by
OSHA on each MSDS is as follows:
• Section 1: Chemical Identity (Using both chemi-
cal and common names)
• Section 2: Hazardous ingredients
• Section 3: Physical and Chemical Characteristics
• Section 4: Fire and Explosion Data
• Section 5: Reactivity Data (How it reacts to other
chemicals)
• Section 6: Health Hazards
• Section 7: Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
• Section 8: Control Measures
The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) is currently working on a project
to develop International Chemical Safety Cards. The proj-
ect is being developed by the International Programme
on Chemical Safety (IPCS) in collaboration with the
Commission of the European Communities. The IPCS
is a joint venture of three International Organizations:
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
the International Labour Office (ILO), and the World
Health Organization (WHO). The major goal of the
IPCS is to evaluate and provide information on haz-
ards posed by chemicals to human health and the
environment. Over 1,600 International Chemical
Safety Cards are available in English.
International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
provide important health and safety information
on the chemicals for use by workers and employers.
These cards provide information on hazards posed
by the chemical and the risks for producing and using
the chemical substance. The identification of the
chemicals on the cards is based on the UN numbers,
the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number and
the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances
(RTECS/NIOSH) numbers. UN numbers are four-
digit numbers that identify hazardous substances
and products that have commercial importance. This
numbering classification is used in international
commerce to label contents in shipping containers.
Similarities and differences of Material Safety Data
Sheets and International Chemical Safety Cards are
shown in Figure 8-4.
Title 1 of the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act mandated OSHA to develop-
ment training requirements for employees handling
hazardous wastes. OSHA developed the 1910.120 CFR
standard, commonly known as Hazwoper (Hazardous
Waste Operations and Emergency Response
Standard). The standard requires employees to com-
plete a minimum 40-hour off-site training course with
at least three days of on-the-job training before they are
permitted to handle hazardous wastes. Supervisors of
these workers must also receive 40 hours of training.
Employers are also required to prepare and
follow a written hazardous communication plan.
This must provide an inventory of the hazardous
chemicals or products in each department or work
area, and show how the employer informs employ-
ees of the hazards associated with the materials. The
employer must also be able to provide, on written