Material Safety Data Sheet: OSHA Requirements

The recommended format and the most used is the ANSI MSDS, but the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) categories are the minimum and the legally enforceable. Most of MSDS are using the ANSI format but if you find an OSHA MSDS these is what you will find in it.

Let’s use the MSDS of the ACETONE
 

Section I. Manufacturer's Name and Contact Information 

 

General Information about the substance such as chemical formula and common names.

Section II. Hazardous Ingredients 

 

All the ingredients in the composition of the substance must be listed, especially the carcinogens agents that are required to be listed at levels of 0.1% or greater.

Section III. Physical and Chemical Characteristics

 

All the information about boiling and freezing points, volatility and more.

Section IV. Fire and Explosion Hazard Data 

Everything about the potential fire hazard of the chemical, and the conditions under it could ignite or explode. Also like in the ANSI MSDS, some firefighting methods are listed aswell.

Section V. Reactivity Data
 


Other substances that the chemical wont be compatible or could react with, along with some  proper storage conditions.

Section VI. Health Hazards 

 


Everything about the Health hazards of the compound, any symptoms depending on the route of entry on the body.

Section VII. Precautions for Safe Handling and Use / First Aid Procedures 

Section dedicated to ensure the chemical will be stored and handled with the proper procedures and precautions. Be sure to know that this section is very important for insurance companies so you better do everything its said in this part.

In some types of MSDS this section is dedicated to the first aid procedures that must be followed in case of an incident involving a person.

Section VIII. Control Measures

 


Further safety instructions like personal protective equipment.