LA TROBE UNIVERSITY

             GUIDELINES ON MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS





PURPOSE



The purpose of these guidelines is to inform staff and students of current and relevant information

required to comply with Victorian legislation in relation to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).





MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS



If a substance is classified as a Hazardous Substance (HS) or as a Dangerous Goods (DG), an

MSDS must be prepared by the manufacturer or importer and be made available to purchasers of

the substance.



The current MSDS must be obtained on or before the first time the HS and/or DG is supplied for

use in the workplace. Only MSDSs prepared by the manufacturer or importer are acceptable.



Requirements of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)



Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must:



    �   be written in English and contain the following information

    �   have a date of preparation or review,

    �   have the Manufacturer or importers details, including an Australian address and contact

    �   number(s),

    �   be less than five (5) years old.

    �   Have one of the following statements:

              “Hazardous according to the criteria of NOHSC (or Work safe Australia)� (the chemical

              is classed as a Hazardous Substance) ; or

              “Not classified as Hazardous according to the criteria of NOHSC (or WorkSafe

              Australia)� (the chemical is not classed as a Hazardous Substance)

    �   Have the words Dangerous Good if the chemical has been classed as a Dangerous Good

    �   Have the following information if the chemical has been classed as a Dangerous Good:

              -       (DG) Class

              -       Subsidiary Risk (If applicable)

              -       Packing Group (If applicable)

              -       UN number

    �   product name;

    �   chemical and physical properties of the substance;

    �   identity of the ingredients;

    �   proportion (or proportion ranges) of the ingredients in the substance;

    �   health hazard information;

    �   first aid information;

    �   precautions for safe use;

    �   exposure standards (if there are any applicable);



MSDS from the Internet



If the manufacturer/importer/supplier refers you to the company’s web site for you to download the

MSDS then only download MSDS which includes the above information.



If any of the information listed above is missing from the MSDS you have been supplied with, then

the MSDS is not compliant with Victorian legislation. In this circumstance, contact the company

concerned. If the company fails to send a correct MSDS, contact the Occupational Health and

Safety Section who will contact the company concerned and WorkSafe Victoria.









Occupational Health and Safety Section                                     Issued 2 September 2005

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If a Hazardous Substance and/or Dangerous Good is supplied for use to the workplace in

consumer packages from a retailer or retail warehouse operator, an MSDS must be obtained from

the manufacturer or importer of the substance.



Copies of MSDS must be readily accessible to any employee who could be exposed to a

hazardous substance. MSDS should be kept in a location convenient to the work area in which the

substance is used, and all employees likely to be exposed to a hazardous substance should be

aware of the MSDS location.



Information in an MSDS must not be altered. Additional information may be appended to the

MSDS, but it must be marked clearly to indicate that it is not part of the original.



Only MSDS form the manufacturer/importer/supplier are appropriate for purchased chemicals.



Chemwatch MSDSs



MSDS can be downloaded from the CHEMWATCH data base and in most circumstances these

MSDS will be additional information to that provided in the manufacturer/importer/supplier’s MSDS

which will be the primary source of information.



In the case of conflicting information between two MSDS select the one with the higher risk

information.



Chemwatch MSDS can be used:



      �    If you are unable to source an MSDS from the manufacturer/importer/supplier’s for any

           reason (they have gone out of business, etc)

      �    You order a chemical from overseas, you are the only one who is going to use the

           chemical and the manufacturer/importer/supplier’s does not supply you with a current,

           compliant MSDS

      �    As the MSDS for all solutions (Dilutions, buffers, etc) you prepare.



The current format of the Chemwatch MSDS is known as the �16 Header format�. This is the format

that all MSDS will be required to be written in from the beginning of 2008.



New MSDS Format in 2008



16 Header format � due to come into effect in 2008



1.        Identification (Chemical Product and Company)

2.        Hazard identification

3.        Composition/information on ingredients

4.        First Aid measures

5.        Fire-fighting measures

6.        Accidental release measures

7.        Handling and storage

8.        Exposure control/personal protection

9.        Physical and chemical properties

10.       Stability and reactivity

11.       Toxicological information

12.       Ecological information

13.       Disposal considerations

14.       Transport information

15.       Regulatory information

16.       Other information





Contact the OHS unit for further guidance and information if required









Occupational Health and Safety Section                                   Issued 2 September 2005