MSDS
UNDERSTANDING AN MSDS
M A T E R I A L S A F E T Y D A T A S H E E T S
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides basic information provide their own recommended exposure limits for their products.
on a material or chemical product. This includes the properties Legal (regulated) exposure limits in your jurisdiction (provincial or
and potential hazards of the material, how to use it safely, and federal) may be different from those listed on the MSDS. Health
what to do in an emergency. The purpose of this document is to and safety professionals use exposure limits as standards when air
assist Canadian employees in understanding and interpreting this sampling is conducted.
type of information.
Other information about the ingredients, for example the LD50
The MSDS is an essential starting point for the development of a and/or the LC50, may also be included in this section. These
complete health and safety program for the material. MSDSs are values are obtained from toxicity testing using experimental
prepared by the manufacturer or supplier of the material. They animals and are used to indicate the short-term poisoning
tend to be general in nature, since they provide summarized potential of a material (the lower the value, the more toxic the
information which tries to address all reasonably anticipated material). LD50 (lethal dose 50%) is the amount of a material,
uses of the material. given all at once, which causes the death of 50% of a group of
test animals. The LD50 can be determined using any route of
The information on MSDSs is organized into sections. The specific exposure, but dermal (applied to skin) and oral (given by mouth)
names and content of these sections can vary from one supplier鈥檚 LD50s are most common. If the route of exposure is inhalation,
MSDS to another, but are often similar to the 16 sections of the the value is called an LC50, which stands for lethal (airborne)
ANSI Standard MSDS, listed below. If you are using a 9-section concentration 50%.
data sheet, the types of information appearing are addressed in
this document, although they may be in a different order and
3 HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
under slightly different headings.
The Hazards Identification section describes the ways you may
1 CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND be exposed to the material and the harmful health effects it can
have. These may include effects that have been observed in
COMPANY IDENTIFICATION experimental animals, if they are considered relevant to people.
The product identifier (normally the product name) appears both
Routes of Entry (Primary Routes of Exposure)
on the MSDS and on the WHMIS label. To locate the correct
MSDS, always use the product identifier, not a shortened name This section describes how you can be exposed to the material.
that may be used at your workplace. Check that the name of In designing ways to minimize exposure, each Route of Entry
the manufacturer and/or supplier matches the label as well. The needs to be considered. Chemicals can cause harm either at the
MSDS and label may also display other identification, such as a point of contact, by absorption into the body, or both. Chemicals
product code or catalog number. absorbed into the body can affect body systems and organs far
away from the point of entry. For example, phenol absorbed
The date the MSDS was prepared (or the last time it was reviewed
through the skin can cause fatal nervous system and kidney injury.
or revised) is also indicated. The data sheet will be updated when
new information becomes available. You should check that the The possible routes of exposure are skin contact, eye contact,
MSDS you are using is less than 3 years old. If it isn鈥檛, an updated inhalation (respiratory system), and ingestion (swallowing). How
data sheet needs to be requested from the supplier or manufacturer. important each route of entry is for a particular material depends
You can use the manufacturer and/or distributor telephone on many factors, such as the physical properties of the material
number(s) provided to obtain more safe handling information and how it is used.
if you need it.
Effects of Acute Exposure to Product
2 COMPOSITION, INFORMATION An acute exposure is one that takes place over a short period of
ON INGREDIENTS time (minutes, hours or days). Health effects caused by an acute
exposure are usually seen at the time of exposure. Sometimes,
Specific potentially hazardous chemical components of the product they may not appear for several hours or even days after an
are listed in this section along with the approximate amount exposure.
(percentage) of each. CAS numbers for the ingredients are usually
You need information on the typical effects of a short-term
included as well. These are unique identifiers for chemicals,
exposure (signs and symptoms) because they can alert you that
assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) of the American
you are being accidentally exposed. Any symptoms you experience
Chemical Society. Since a chemical can have many different
which may be associated with use of a material should be reported
names, this number can be very useful when trying to find more
so that your workplace can be investigated to find out the cause.
information.
Possible reasons for the symptoms can vary widely. For example,
Exposure limits, if available, are given for each component. perhaps the material has passed through your gloves, or the
Typically these are occupational exposure limits such as TLVs ventilation system is not working effectively. Sometimes the
(Threshold Limit Values), published by the American Conference symptoms may not be related to an exposure at work鈥?
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Some manufacturers they may be caused by a cold, for example.
6 ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
Effects of Chronic Exposure to Product
A chronic exposure is a long-term exposure (months or years).
General instructions for responding to an accidental release or
Chronic exposures may be described as prolonged, meaning very
cleaning up a spill are provided in this section. Specific information,
long, or repeated, meaning many exposures. Any illness related
such as recommended absorbent materials for spill cleanup, may
to a chronic exposure may develop very slowly or may not appear
be included. The information is intended to be used mainly by
until many years after the exposure has stopped. You should be
emergency responders and environmental professionals.
aware that at the time of the exposure you may experience no
warning symptoms, but an illness possibly related to the exposure
7 HANDLING AND STORAGE
may appear months or years later. If these types of effects are
possible for the material you are handling, it is especially
important to minimize your exposure by following established In this section, you will find general precautions necessary for
safe handling procedures. the safe handling of the material, including any equipment that
may be required. All possible hazards (fire, reactivity and health)
* * * * * need to be considered when developing safe handling procedures.
For example, for dispensing a flammable liquid, the MSDS may
The health effects information in the Hazards Identification section
suggest electrical grounding and bonding of containers.
of the MSDS should be considered general since a particular
material will not affect everyone the same way. In addition, the Storage recommendations in this section provide a good starting
way in which a material is used or handled in a particular point for deciding where and how materials should be stored.
workplace will influence the degree of the health hazard. Refer also to the Fire Fighting Measures and the Stability &
Reactivity sections of the MSDS.
As you read MSDSs from different supliers, you will see that they
are not all written in the same way. Most provide information on Much of the information in this section is intended for occupational
health effects which would reasonably be anticipated under health and safety professionals or those responsible for designing
conditions of normal use, spills or emergencies. Others provide safe storage/handling facilities.
worst case information, describing any known health effect which
may possibly occur at any dose, by any route of exposure.
8 EXPOSURE CONTROLS,
Because of these different approaches, one must be cautious in
assuming that a certain product is more or less hazardous than
PERSONAL PROTECTION
another on the basis of information given in this section.
This section provides information which is used to develop
4 procedures and practices for working safely with the material.
FIRST AID MEASURES Most MSDSs are written to address all reasonably anticipated
uses of the material. Because they must address such a wide
The First Aid Measures section describes actions to be taken
range of usage situations, the information may not be entirely
immediately in case you are accidentally exposed to the material.
applicable to your job. A health and safety professional can help
The purpose of first aid is to minimize injury and future disability.
you in interpreting the information and assessing its relevance.
In serious cases, first aid may be necessary to keep the victim alive.
First aid information needs to be known before you start working
Engineering Controls
with the material. There is no time to find and read the MSDS
Engineering control systems reduce potential hazards either by
during an emergency. First aid procedures should be periodically
isolating the hazard or by removing the hazard from the work
reviewed, especially by employees trained to give first aid.
environment. They either control the potential hazard at its
All employees should know the location of the facilities and
source (local exhaust ventilation), remove it from the general area
equipment for providing first aid; for example, the eyewash
(general ventilation) or put up a permanent barrier between
fountains, safety showers and first aid kits.
the worker and the potential hazard (isolation or enclosure).
When medical treatment is necessary, send the MSDS, if it is Engineering control systems are important because they are built
readily available, to the emergency facility with the victim. If into the work process to reduce the hazards automatically.
the MSDS is not available, you should send the material鈥檚 label
Substitution of a less hazardous material or industrial process is
or a labelled container of the material, if it is small enough.
always the best way to reduce a hazard and should be considered
The medical personnel need to know what the material is and
first. Engineering control systems are the next best option and are
what first aid measures have been recommended and used.
preferred over other control measures such as the use of personal
Occasionally, the MSDS has additional instructions (or a Note
protective equipment.
to Physician) which may be useful to the emergency doctor.
You need to make sure that engineering control systems
5 FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES recommended for your job are properly checked and maintained
and that they are operating when you are working with the
material. If there are changes in the process or materials, the
This section describes any fire hazards associated with the material.
controls may have to be changed as well.
The information can be used to select the appropriate type of fire
extinguishers and to plan the best response to a fire for a particular
work site. Much of the information is intended for firefighters Personal Protective Equipment
and emergency response personnel. If the material is a potential
General guidance is provided on the need for and selection of
fire hazard, you should refer to section 7 for special handling
personal protective equipment .
precautions.
Protective Clothing
The information in this section, combined with information from
the Handling & Storage and the Stability & Reactivity Data sections, Protective clothing includes items such as gloves, aprons, full
can be used in determining where a certain material should be body suits, and boots. The MSDS should tell you the types of
stored (for example, flammable liquids should be stored in rubbers or other materials that provide the best protection
specially designed facilities away from incompatible chemicals). against the product you are using. No one material acts as a
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barrier to all chemicals. It is also important to consider the You need to be aware of the information in this section so you
temperature conditions and the need for materials not easily cut can store and handle the material safely and avoid mixing
or torn. Sometimes, the MSDS may simply advise you to use incompatible materials.
impervious (resistant) materials. In this case, you need to find out
which specific materials are best. You may be able to obtain this
11 TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
information from the product supplier or manufacturer or from
a protective clothing supplier or manufacturer. It is also important
This section of the MSDS contains toxicity information, either
to maintain your protective clothing or gloves properly and
for the ingredients of the product or the product as a whole.
replace them when necessary.
This information can be quite technical and difficult to interpret.
If you are uncertain whether the information is relevant to your
Eye Protection
workplace and your job you should ask a knowledgeable health
Depending on the job you are doing and the type of material
and safety professional. When reading about the effects of the
you are handling, you may need various levels of eye protection
material on animals, it is important to remember that the effects
(e.g. safety glasses, chemical safety goggles, a face shield or
are not necessarily the same for people.
some combination of these).
Irritancy of Product
Respiratory Protection
There are many different types of respirators. One type may be Some products can cause irritation (reversible reddening, swelling
effective against some chemicals but may provide little or no and pain) if they come into direct contact with the skin, eyes or
protection against others. Selecting the best respirator for you respiratory tract (nose, breathing airways and lungs). If there is
can be quite complicated. Usually a qualified person must carry information available about irritancy of the product, for example
out a detailed assessment of the workplace, including all chemicals from tests on experimental animals, it will be indicated in this
used and their airborne concentrations and forms. Consequently, section.
complete respiratory protection guidelines generally cannot be
given on the MSDS. Sensitization to Product
If respirators are required at your work site, a complete respiratory Sensitization is the development, over time, of an enhanced
protection program including respirator selection, fit testing, reaction to a chemical. Sensitizers may cause a mild response
training and maintenance is necessary. The relevant regulatory on the first few exposures but, as the sensitivity develops, the
and consensus standards should be consulted. response becomes worse with subsequent exposures. Eventually,
even short exposures to low concentrations can cause a very
severe reaction.
9 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL There are two different types of occupational sensitization: skin
PROPERTIES and respiratory. Typical symptoms of skin sensitivity are swelling,
redness, itching, pain, and blistering. Sensitization of the
You should check that the description (physical state and appearance) respiratory system may result in symptoms similar to a severe
of the material is the same as the material you have. If it isn鈥檛, asthmatic attack. These symptoms include wheezing, difficulty
you may not have the correct MSDS. Alternatively, the material in breathing, chest tightness, coughing and shortness of breath.
may be old or may have decomposed during shipping or storage.
In either case, the information on the MSDS may not apply, and
Carcinogenicity
you should obtain additional advice.
Materials are identified as carcinogens if they are recognized
The rest of the information in this section is used to help determine as carcinogens by the American Conference of Governmental
the conditions under which the material may be hazardous. Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or the International Agency for
Technical specialists use this information to develop specific work Research on Cancer (IARC). The lists of carcinogens published by
site procedures for exposure control, storage, handling, spill these organizations include known human carcinogens and some
clean-up, etc. materials which cause cancer in animal experiments. Certain
chemicals may be listed as suspect or possible carcinogens if the
10 STABILITY AND REACTIVITY evidence is limited or inconclusive.
Reproductive Toxicity
This section of the MSDS describes any conditions under which
the material is unstable or can react dangerously. Unstable Reproductive toxicity is defined under WHMIS as effects on the
materials may break down (decompose) and cause fires or reproductive process in adult males and/or females, which may
explosions or cause the formation of new chemicals which have be caused by a substance. Possible reproductive effects include
different hazards. Conditions such as heat, sunlight, and aging reduced fertility and menstrual changes.
of the chemical may cause unstable chemicals to break down.
Teratogenicity and Embryotoxicity
Some chemicals are hazardous because they can polymerize or
undergo a chain reaction. This reaction may generate a lot of A teratogen is a substance which can cause birth defects. An
heat, may generate enough pressure to burst a container, or embryotoxin is a substance which can cause toxic effect on the
may be explosive. developing embryo. Both teratogenicity and embryotoxicity result
from a harmful effect on the embryo or the fetus during pregnancy.
Chemicals that can decompose or polymerize often contain
additives called stabilizers or inhibitors which reduce or eliminate Most chemicals can cause teratogenic/embryotoxic effects if there
the possibility of a hazardous reaction. is an extremely high exposure. In these cases, the exposed person
would experience other noticeable signs and symptoms caused
Incompatible materials are materials which may react violently
by the exposure. Chemicals which cause teratogenic/embryotoxic
or explosively if mixed or brought together. These materials
effects in the absence of other significant harmful effects are
should be stored separately and should not be mixed unless
regarded as true teratogens/embryotoxins. Pregnant women need
special procedures are followed.
to be particularly careful to minimize their exposure to these materials.
www.ccohs.ca
13 DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
Mutagenicity
A mutagen is a substance which can cause changes (mutations)
This section of the MSDS is intended mainly for environmental
in the DNA of cells. DNA determines the characteristics that
professionals. General waste disposal information will normally
children inherit from their parents and also determines how cells
be included. The MSDS does not usually contain all the steps and
in the body divide or reproduce. Mutagenicity is the ability of a
precautions necessary for adequate hazardous waste disposal.
substance to cause mutations.
As well, the MSDS often does not give the federal, provincial,
or local regulations which must be followed. The appropriate
A number of laboratory tests are used to screen chemicals for
authorities for your area should be contacted for this information.
possible mutagenic effects which may also be linked to carcinogenic,
teratogenic or reproductive risks. In themselves, mutagenicity test
results may not reliably predict the risk to humans since the
14 TRANSPORT INFORMATION
human body can eliminate mutagens and repair many mutations.
Mutagenicity is included on the MSDS because it is an early
This section of the MSDS is intended for those responsible for
indicator of potential hazard.
shipping the material. If there are special precautions necessary
during shipment, they will be provided. The TDG (Transportation
Name of Toxicologically Synergistic Products of Dangerous Goods) PIN number (product identification number)
Synergism means that exposure to more than one chemical over will also be provided if the product meets the TDG criteria. The
the same period of time can result in health effects greater than supplier may also include the TDG classification.
expected when the effects of exposure to each chemical are
added together. Very simply, it is like saying 1 + 1 = 3. When
15 REGULATORY INFORMATION
chemicals are synergistic, the potential hazards of the chemicals
should be reevaluated, taking their synergistic properties into
Information in this section is aimed primarily at regulatory
consideration. It is important to know whether certain combinations
compliance personnel. Useful references to applicable health,
of chemicals may cause health effects which are more severe than
safety and environmental laws and regulations may be provided,
might be anticipated by considering the effects of each chemical
along with information on the regulatory status of the product.
separately.
The WHMIS classification for the product may also be given.
* * * * *
16 OTHER INFORMATION
If the product you are using contains skin or respiratory sensitizers,
carcinogens or reproductive toxins, following safe handling This section is used to provide supplementary information which
practices and procedures is particularly important so that you the author of the data sheet considers important for the safe use
minimize your exposure. of the material. Reference sources used in preparing the data
sheet are sometimes listed.
12 ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION It is important to remember that an MSDS is not a
No ecological information is specifically required under WHMIS. complete source of health and safety information
If included, this section contains data that is useful in evaluating
on its own but should be seen as a starting point
the environmental impact of the material if it is released
in developing safe handling practices and procedures.
(e.g. toxicity to fish, birds, plants and micro-organisms). This
Always refer to your company's safety rules and
information is intended mainly for environmental professionals
procedures for more information.
and other company staff evaluating use, disposal or spill control.
This document is available for sale in bundles of 50 for $19.50.
Volume discounts are also available.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
(CCOHS) produces several chemical databases on CD-ROM
including a large MSDS database and CHEMINFO, which
provides comprehensive, summarized chemical information.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Many terms used on MSDSs are explained in the CCOHS
publication The Material Safety Data Sheet鈥擜n Explanation 250 Main Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 1H6
Phone: (905) 570-8094
of Common Terms. Other publications and databases
Fax: (905) 572-2206
relating to MSDSs and hazardous materials are also
E-mail: custserv@ccohs.ca
available. For further information, call 1-800-668-4284.
Web Site: http://www.ccohs.ca/
Prepared by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chemical Distributors (CACD).
Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy and completeness of the information, it is understood that CCOHS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such information
and assumes no liability for any damages or loss suffered as a result of any inaccuracy or incompleteness therein.
漏 CCOHS, 1996. Reprinted, 1998, 2000.
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