What is a Material Safety Data Sheet?

The purpose of a material safety data sheet is to protect people from exposure to chemical and hazardous materials. An MSDS aims to keep anyone who uses the product safe by detailing information about the specific chemical substances the product contains, and how to safely handle, store, and dispose of it.

Therefore, the information an MSDS should contain includes the:

• Material’s chemical constituents and composition – molecular and chemical properties
• Hazardous ingredients
• Concentration of the chemicals
• Physical data
• Stability and reactivity
• Biological information – how it may affect humans
• Safe storage procedures
• Proper handling steps – if safety equipment/PPE is required
• Processes if it’s spilt or the material is ingested, gets in the eyes or on the skin
• Proper waste disposal methods

All the information an MSDS contains helps employers carry out a risk assessment before using such products. This is required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) when using chemicals in the workplace.

The manufacturer of a product or supplier of a chemical should provide the MSDS with the product. It’s best to get in touch directly with the manufacturer if you can’t find a material safety data sheet with a product that you think should have one. The manufacturer should provide either a physical or MSDS PDF.

The MSDS format typically has 16 sections. However, some manufacturers and suppliers add extra information and the format of an MSDS can vary between countries. Generally, to read an MSDS, you should find the following sections that provide all the relevant information you need to use, store, and dispose of a product safely:

1. Product and company identification – the product name, code, catalogue number, manufacturer/supplier name and contact number.
2. Hazards identification – substance/mixture classification, potential health effects, and information about other hazards.
3. Composition – information on the ingredients including hazardous chemical components, by-products, and impurities.
4. First aid measures – actions to take if exposed to hazardous material, such as the symptoms and effects, and any immediate medical attention/special treatment.
5. Firefighting measures – fire hazards of the product and the process to put it out, for help using the right type of fire extinguisher.
6. Accidental release measures – how to respond to a spill or release, environmental precautions, containment and clean-up methods and materials.
7. Handling and storage – how to safely store and handle the product.
8. Exposure controls and personal protection – control and exposure guidelines, details of any required PPE.
9. Physical and chemical properties – details about the basic physical and chemical properties of the product.
10. Stability and reactivity – information about any conditions where the material could be unstable and cause a reaction.
11. Toxicological information – toxicity details of the ingredients or product as a whole.
12. Ecological information – information about the environmental impact of the material if released (on soil, water, wildlife etc.).
13. Disposal considerations – waste treatment methods and disposal information.
14. Transport information – details about precautions during shipping, an identification number, and environmental hazards for those shipping the material.
15. Regulatory information – health, safety, and regulation information specific to the product to ensure compliance.
16. Other information – any supplementary details important for the safe use of the product not covered in the sections above.