Document No: 250New chemicals are being developed everyday and used in an ever-widening variety of applications. The need to provide accurate, clear and concise information to people who use, handle or store hazardous industrial chemicals is paramount.
Per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard [29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1200], a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is one means of providing this information. Details on material identity, manufacturer information, hazard identity, emergency information along with other technical information are contained in an MSDS. The Hazard Communication Standard provides little information regarding formatting of an MSDS.
In 1993, the American National Standard for Hazardous Industrial Chemicals – Material Safety Data Sheets – Preparation, ANSI Z400.1 was developed to address the need for a MSDS format that was comprehensive, understandable and consistent. ANSI Z400.1-1993 introduced the standardized 16-section MSDS. Revisions were made to the Standard in 1998 and 2004. The 2004 revisions improve readability, minimize redundancies and reorder the MSDS sections as outlined below:
Section 1: Chemical Product and Company Identification This section names the material and links the MSDS to the label and shipping documents. It also identifies the name of the manufacturer, importer or other responsible party along with a mailing address and phone number for obtaining additional information.
Section 2: Hazard Identification This section describes the material’s appearance and most significant immediate concerns. It is divided into four subsections – emergency overview, OSHA regulatory status, potential health effects and potential environmental effects.
The physical state of the material and the health, physical and environmental hazards that require immediate attention in emergencies are listed in the emergency overview. The OSHA regulatory status subsection indicates if the material is hazardous or non-hazardous with respect to the Hazard Communication Standard. Potential adverse health effects and symptoms associated with exposure to the material are given in the potential health effects subsection. The potential environmental effects subsection provides information on the potential effects associated with release of the material into the environment.
Section 3: Composition, Information on Ingredients This section identifies the components, by-products and impurities that contribute to the material’s hazards. The chemical name, common name or synonyms, along with the corresponding Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number and percentages or ranges of percentages are included.
Section 4: First Aid Measures This section is divided into two subsections – first aid procedures and notes to physicians. The first aid procedures should be brief, easily understood emergency and first aid instructions for each potential route of exposure. They are intended for use by any untrained individual. The notes to physicians convey additional information on antidotes, specific treatments and diagnostic procedures and are intended for use by healthcare professionals.
Section 5: Fire-Fighting Measures This section describes specific hazards arising from the fire and explosive properties of the material, the appropriate extinguishing media for the fire and special protective equipment and precautions for fire fighting.
Section 6: Accidental Release Measures This section contains information for responding to spills, leaks or releases in order to prevent or minimize the adverse health effects on persons, property and the environment. Information on personal protective equipment, containment equipment, clean-up equipment and techniques, environmental precautions and specific reporting requirements may be included.
Section 7: Handling and Storage This section provides guidance on safe handling and storage practices. Precautions that are proper for the unique properties of the material should be emphasized.
Section 8: Exposure Controls and Personal Protection This section is divided into three subsections. Established exposure guidelines for the material and / or its components are identified in subsection 1. The established exposure guidelines include, but are not limited to, OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist’s (ACGIH’s) Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs).
Engineering controls that may be appropriate to help minimize the hazards are discussed in subsection 2.
Personal protective equipment guidance – eye/face protection, skin protection, respiratory protection and general hygiene considerations – is given in subsection 3.
Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties This section identifies the physical and chemical properties of the material. If applicable and relevant, the following characteristics must be detailed: appearance, odor, odor threshold, physical state, pH, melting/freezing point, initial boiling point and boiling range, flash point, evaporation rate, flammability (solid, gas), upper/lower flammability or explosive limits, vapor pressure, vapor density, specific gravity or relative density, solubility, partial coefficient: n-octanol/water, auto-ignition temperature and decomposition temperature. If a characteristic is included, but not applicable or relevant, indicate so.
Section 10: Stability and Reactivity This section describes the potential hazards associated with the stability and reactivity of the material under specified conditions. Chemical stability, conditions to avoid, incompatible materials, hazardous decomposition products and the possibility of hazardous reactions should be addressed.
Section 11: Toxicological Information This section provides toxicological information that can be used to assess human health hazards or potential health effects of the material and / or its components. Acute dose effects, repeated dose effects, irritation, corrosivity, skin and respiratory sensitization, carcinogenicity, neurological effects, genetic effects, reproductive effects, developmental effects and target organ effects data may be listed.
Section 12: Ecological Information Information to assist in the evaluation of the environmental impact of the material and / or its components if released to the environment is provided in this section. Ecotoxicity, persistence / degradability, bioaccumulation / accumulation, mobility in environmental media and other adverse effects may be addressed.
Section 13: Disposal Considerations This section provides information that may be useful in the proper disposal, recycling or reclamation of the material and / or its container.
Section 14: Transport Information Basic classification information and special precautionary information to help a knowledgeable user prepare a material for shipment is given in this section. This section is not intended to contain every regulatory detail involving the transportation of a material.
Section 15: Regulatory Information This section provides information on the regulatory status that is useful for compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations. Content and organization of this section depends on where the material is manufactured or used. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of the regulations that may apply. US Federal regulations / agencies shown may include Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), OSHA, Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Section 16: Other Information This section includes any additional information that may be useful. It may include label text, hazard ratings, preparation and revision information or key/legend that explains the abbreviations used in the MSDS.
This is a general overview of the ANSI Z400.1-2004 standard. Copies of the Standard may be obtained by contacting:
American National Standards Institute, Inc. 25 West 43 rd Street New York , NY 10036 Telephone: 212-642-4900 Web Address: www.ansi.org
Commonly Asked Questions
Bibliography
American National Standard, Z400.1-2004
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