There is No 鈥淟egal鈥? Format for
How to Translate a Material an MSDS
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) 鈥? However, a generally accepted format ,
from American National Standards Institute
is:
Debbie Wolfe-Lopez
鈥? Section 1- Product and Manufacturer
Georgia Tech Identification
Chemical Safety Coordinator 鈥? Section 2- Chemical and common names of
September 2003 hazardous ingredients
鈥? Section 3- Physical and Chemical Properties
Sections 4-10 More Sections
鈥? Section 4- Physical Hazards (fire & explosion) 鈥? Other Sections Sometimes Seen
鈥? Section 5- Toxicity Data 鈥? Fire fighting Measures
鈥? Section 6- Health Hazards 鈥? Reactivity Data
鈥? Section 7- Storage and Handling Procedures 鈥? Ecological Data
鈥? Section 8- Emergency First Aid Procedures 鈥? Disposal Information
鈥? Section 9- Disposal Considerations 鈥? Regulatory Information
鈥? Section 10- Transportation Information 鈥? Miscellaneous Information
Section I Product Identification Section II Hazardous Ingredients
鈥? Product Name
鈥? OSHA regulates 400 hazardous chemicals-
鈥? Synonyms
many manufacturers won鈥檛 list the stuff as
鈥? Name Address and Phone number of the
hazardous if its not on the OSHA list
Manufacturer or Distributor
鈥? Much information is withheld here because the
material is proprietary
Solubility
The ability of a solid, liquid, gas or vapor to
Section III dissolve in water. Also, the ability of one
material to blend uniformly with another
Physical Characteristics (solid in liquid, liquid in liquid, etc..).
Expressed as soluble, slightly soluble or non-
soluble.
Examples: Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethanol
1
Vapor Density
Solubility is important because鈥?
The weight of a gas or vapor compared to the weight
of an equal volume of air at the same pressure and
鈥? Solubility in water is an indicator of how
temperature.
easily a substance can pass into the body
from the digestive tract and the lungs and
Air = 1,
tells us where we will find it in the body
If #<1, the material is lighter than air and may rise
after it is absorbed.
If #>1, the material is heavier than air and may stay
low to the ground
Examples: Air = 1, Propane =1.6, Hydrogen = 0.1,
Gasoline = 3.0 - 4.0
Vapor Density is Important
Specific Gravity
Because鈥?
The weight of a material as compared to
鈥? It tells you where a contaminant will be
found after a spill and dictates what you an equal volume of water.
will do next.
Water = 1
鈥? For example-
If # < 1, the material will float
鈥? hydrogen and 鈥渟pills up鈥? and dissipates
If # > 1, the material will sink
鈥? Organics typically spill down and produce
vapor plumes that can travel large distances-
downhill (toward a source of ignition) Examples: Water = 1, Gasoline = 0.8
Specific Gravity is Important
Vapor Pressure
Because鈥?
The pressure exerted by a saturated vapor
鈥? If the material should get in to water- such
above it鈥檚 own liquid. Reported in
as mix with storm water, specific gravity
millimeters of mercury (Hg) or pounds per
will determine how to get it out before it
square inch (psig or psia). Test temperature is
reaches the water system.
usually 100F (38C).
Examples:
Acetone = 184 mm Hg (20C),
Isopropyl Alcohol = 33 mm Hg (20C)
Vapor Pressure is Important
Saturation Concentration
Because鈥?
鈥? (VP/SP) 106 ppm=
鈥? It determines how easily a substance
becomes airborne and presents an inhalation saturation concentration
hazard. 鈥? (184/760) 106= 242,105 ppm
鈥? For example- acetone What does this tell you?- That this material is
鈥? VP 184 mm Hg capable of causing dangerous conditions if
spilled at normal room temperatures.
鈥? PEL= 1,000 ppm
鈥? IDLH 10,000 ppm
Melting Point Boiling Point
The temperature at which a solid substance
The temperature at which the material鈥檚
changes to a liquid state. vapor pressure equals atmospheric pressure.
Examples:
xamples:
Water = 212F(100C),
ater (ice) = 32F(0C),
Propane = 44F(6.67C),
cetic Acid = 62F(16.7C)
Butane = 31F(-0.56C)
Corrosive
Corrosive
pH Scale
A solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical that causes
visible destruction or irreversible alterations in tissue at
the site of contact. 0 7 14
Acid Neutral Base
xamples:
cetic Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Remember pH is a logarithmic scale: 7 is neutral,
otassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide 6 is 10X stronger than 7, 5 is 100X stronger than7,
4 is 1,000X stronger than 7, and so on...
pH of Some Common Solutions
Acid Strength
鈥? Hydrochloric Acid 4% 0
Acid strength is determined relative to the
鈥? Gastric Juices 1.6-1.8
degree of molecular ionization (separation)
鈥? Lemon Juice 2.3
in water. 鈥? Vinegar 2.4-3.4
鈥? Soft Drinks 2.0-4.0
鈥? Milk 6.3-6.6
Example:
鈥? Blood 7.35-7.45
Hydrochloric Acid = strong acid
鈥? Milk of Magnesia 10.5
Acetic Acid = weak acid
鈥? Sodium Hydroxide 13.0
Flash Point
Flash point- minimum temperature at which a
liquid gives off sufficient vapor to form an
ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the
Section IV
liquid
Fire and Explosion Data This value is the most important indicator
of flammability!
Examples:
Gasoline = -45F(-42.8),
Benzene = 12F (-11C),
Kerosene = 100-162F(37.8-72.2C)
Explosive Limits (LEL, UEL)
Fire and Explosion Data
Lower Explosive Limit
鈥? Flammable- (LEL): The lowest
鈥? fp < 100oF or 37.8oC concentration in air at which
鈥? <73oF = class IA-C and is a 4 on an NFPA
ignition can occur.
diamond
鈥? Combustible-fp >100oF or 37.8oC
Upper Explosive Limit
鈥? Flammable and Combustible materials need
(UEL): The highest
to be stored in a flammable cabinet
concentration of vapor in air
鈥? 29 CFR 1910.106
at which ignition can occur.
LEL and UEL are Not Relevant
Flammable Range
as Health Hazard Indicators
Examples:
Because
Hydrogen LEL = 4.0%, UEL = 75%
Gasoline LEL = 1.4% UEL = 7.6%
鈥? Most flammable substances reach IDLH
Propane LEL = 2.1% UEL = 9.5%
levels (Immediately Dangerous to Life and
Health) in the 100-1000 ppm range.
鈥? LEL is usually at 1-2% or 10,000 ppm.
F lam m ab le
T o o lean to b urn R an g e
T o o rich to bu rn
LEL UEL
Other Terms You May See in
Section VI Health Hazard Data
This Section
鈥? Especially Important- Routes of Exposure 鈥? In reference to exposure limits
鈥? an 鈥淪鈥? or 鈥淪kin鈥? notation on an MSDS 鈥? PEL, TLV, STEL, Excursion Limit, Ceiling
indicates that this material can be absorbed 鈥? In reference to degree of toxicity:
through the skin
鈥? LD50, LC50, LDLo,Highly Toxic, Extremely
鈥? Signs and symptoms of exposure 鈥? Toxic
frequently, the only way to tell if you are 鈥? In reference to duration of exposure:
being over exposed
鈥? Chronic, acute
Exposure Terms More Exposure Limit Terms
鈥? Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) 鈥? Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) (OSHA)
鈥? Set by Federal Government (OSHA) 鈥? Concentration to which a worker can be exposed for no
鈥? 8 hour TWA more than 15 minutes at a time, no more than 4 times in
an 8 hours shift, with exposures being separated by at
鈥? Is the LAW- but still doesn鈥檛 apply here at GA Tech,
except as a guideline least 1 hour at a lower concentration.
鈥? Threshold Limit Value (TLV) 鈥? Excursion Limit (OSHA)
鈥? Set by American Conference of Governmental 鈥? Concentration to which a worker can be exposed for no
Industrial Hygienists more than 30 minutes during a work shift
鈥? Just a suggestion
鈥? Sometimes lower than PEL
More Exposure Limit Terms Toxicity Levels- Human
鈥? Extremely Toxic (LD50 Rat= 5mg/kg)
鈥? Ceiling (OSHA)
鈥? Lethal dose for a human= a taste-< 7 drops
鈥? Highest concentration of contaminant allowed
鈥? Highly toxic (LD50 Rat= 5-50mg/kg)
in the workplace, ever.
鈥? Lethal dose for a human= 7 drops-1 tsp.
鈥? Sometimes incorporated into an 8 hr TWA.
鈥? Moderately toxic (LD50- Rat= 50-500mg/kg)
When written this way, the PEL=ceiling, but
鈥? Lethal dose for a human= 1 tsp- 1 oz
concentration must never go above this level.
鈥? Slightly (LD50 Rat= 500mg-5g/kg)
鈥? Lethal dose for a human= 1 oz-1pt.
鈥? Practically Non-toxic (LD50 Rat= >5g/kg)
鈥? Lethal dose for a human > 1 pt.
Section VII & VIII
Toxicity Testing Precautions for Safe Handling and
Use and Control Measures
鈥? TDLo refers to the lowest dose at which
adverse effects were seen.
鈥? Information here is frequently
鈥? Chronic- refers to repeated low dose
contradictory to the hazardous
exposures.
ingredients section and must be
鈥? Acute- refers to a single high dose
carefully evaluated for example-
exposure.
#1 Gripe
Section 8- Emergency First Aid Procedures
鈥? They tell you to use 鈥渁ppropriate
chemically resistant gloves鈥?- but don鈥檛 tell Emergency refers to acute exposures, but advice here
is usually very good
you what kind of glove is appropriate for
Section 9- Disposal Considerations
this chemical.
鈥? Remember that a skin notation frequently Section 10- Transportation Information
means that latex won鈥檛 work
EH&S
Call Us for Help
鈥? Section 8- Emergency First Aid Procedures Department Front Office鈥︹?︹?︹?︹?︹?︹??...4-4636
鈥? Emergency refers to acute exposures, but advice here is Bio-Hazard- Lee Zacarias鈥︹?︹?︹?︹?︹??..4-6119
usually very good
Chem-Hazard- D. Wolfe-Lopez鈥︹?︹?︹??.5-2964
鈥? Section 9- Disposal Considerations (Also Laser, Noise, Non-ionizing Radiation, Asbestos)
鈥? Will only tell you to follow local regulations- it鈥檚 up to Spills/Waste- Ed Pozniak鈥︹?︹?︹?︹?︹??...4-6224
you to decide which ones apply
Physical Safety- Alton Chin-Shue鈥︹?︹??..5-0263
鈥? Section 10- Transportation Information (Electrical Safety, Ergonomics, Lock-out-tag-out)
鈥? For our purposes- this generally means we can鈥檛 move
it.
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