Using Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for Hazard Communication

Bryan Little Farm Employers Labor Service

Hazard Communication • Hazard communication is a key part of protecting

workers who may encounter hazardous materials – including pesticides

• Dept. of Pesticide Regulation regulations require the use of MSDSs (now Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)) for each pesticide used

• SDS requirements are specified in Cal/OSHA regs

Globally Harmonized System (GHS) • The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of

Chemicals or GHS created internationally consistent methods and standards for communicating about chemical hazards – including Cal/OSHA and DPR-required hazard communication

• GHS was adopted by the U.S. in 2012 • Chemical manufacturers will have to provide GHS-compliant

documents by 6/1/15 • Chemicals with pre-GHS documents will still be in the pipeline until

then

MSDS to SDS • Adoption of GHS means a new name, a new format

and new standard elements for hazard communication documents

• New Name – Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) • New Format – sixteen sections on standard form • New standard elements – “pictograms,” signal words,

and product identifiers

Section 1 – Identification of Chemical • Product Name • Product Use Description • Company producing chemical • Contact Information

Section 2: Hazard Identification • Signal Words – standardized under GHS,

describe the acute toxicity of the product – Danger – identifies chemicals and products that

present a greater or more immediate hazard – Warning – a lesser but still potentially harmful

hazard

Section 2: Hazard Identification

Section 2 – Hazard Identification Pictograms

• Illustration of the kind of hazard a chemical poses • A square, set on one of its points (to look like a

diamond) with a black hazard symbol on a white background and a red frame.

• This pictogram indicates the chemical is explosive:

Other Pictograms You may see pictograms depicting other types of

hazards: Carcinogen Irritant Flammable

Section 2: Hazard Identification Precautionary Statements

– Describe the nature and the degree of hazard – “Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air” or

“may displace oxygen and cause rapid suffocation” or “may form combustible dust concentrations in the air”

Section 2: Hazard Identificaiton Precautionary Statements – Response

• “If swallowed, immediately call poison control center”

• “If in eye: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes.”

Section 3: Ingredients & Composition of a Mixture

Section 3: Ingredients & Composition of a Mixture

Section 4: First Aid • First-aid by routes/types of exposure (inhalation,

skin and eye contact, and ingestion). • Description of the most important symptoms or

effects, and any symptoms that are acute or delayed

• Recommendations for immediate medical care and any special treatment needed

Section 5: Fire Fighting

Section 8: Exposure Controls & PPE • Exposure limits, engineering controls, and personal

protective measures to minimize worker exposure: – OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) – American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

(ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) – OSHA or ACGIH STEL (Short-Term Exposure Limit) – any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical

manufacturer • Engineering controls (“use local exhaust ventilation,” or

“use only in an enclosed system”)

Section 8: Exposure Controls & PPE • Personal protective equipment (PPE)

(appropriate types of eye, face, skin or respiratory protection needed based on hazards and potential exposure)

• Special requirements for PPE, protective clothing or respirators (type of glove material, such as PVC or nitrile rubber gloves)

Important Information in Section 11 • How it gets into your body (routes of entry) • Symptoms of Acute Poisoning (Symptoms

(acute)) • Results of Long-Term Exposure (Delayed Effects) • LD50/Oral/Dermal/Inhalation: exposure required

to kill ½ of exposed (lab animals; rats, rabbits, etc.)

Important Information in Section 11 • Does it cause cancer? (carcinogenicity) • Does it damage DNA and cause mutation?

(mutigenicity) • Does it cause congenital defects?

(teratogenicity) • Does it cause sensitization? (allergies)

Important Information in Section 11 • Does it interfere with reproduction? • Does it cause target organ effects, acute or

chronic (i.e. respiratory, eyes, central nervous system)?

Sections 12-16 You are not required to train employees about the

content and purpose of these sections: Section 12 – Ecological Data Section 13 – Disposal Information Section 14 – Transport Information Section 15 – Regulatory Information Section 16 – Additional Information

Training Workers on SDSs How an employee might use the SDS in the workplace:

• Explain how information on the SDS can be used to ensure proper storage of hazardous chemicals

• Explain how the information on the SDS can be used to quickly locate information on first aid when needed by employees or emergency personnel

Training Workers on SDSs General understanding of how the elements work

together on an SDS: • Where a chemical has multiple hazards, different

pictograms are used to identify the various hazards. • The employee should expect to see the appropriate

pictogram for the corresponding hazard class

Training Workers on SDSs General understanding of how the elements

work together on an SDS: • When there are similar precautionary statements, the one

providing the most protective information will be included on the SDS

• Employee should be instructed that with the new format, Section 8 (Exposure Controls/Personal Protection) will always contain information about exposure limits, engineering controls and ways to protect yourself, including personal protective equipment

Employer’s Responsibilities with SDSs Employers must ensure that the SDSs are readily accessible to

employees for all hazardous substances in their workplace • May keep the SDSs in a binder or on computer/on-line as long as

the employees have immediate access to the information without leaving their work area when needed and a back-up is available for rapid access to the SDS in the case of a power outage or other emergency

• May designate someone responsible for obtaining and maintaining the SDSs

• If you not have an SDS, contact the manufacturer to obtain one

Questions? Comments? Thank you for being a great audience!

Bryan Little Farm Employers Labor Service

2300 River Plaza Drive Sacramento, CA 95833

800-753-9073 info@fels.net