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MSDS Format Requirements

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets out guidelines for information that must be included in a Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS, and recommends that this information be presented in the American National Standards Institute's sixteen section Z400.1 MSDS format. This document contains important safety information regarding the chemical it was written for.

  1. Identification

    • The first section identifies the product, as well as its formula, use, manufacturer and known vendors. Contact information for the manufacturer must also be included.

    Composition

    • In the second section, the chemical composition of the product is listed. All hazardous components need to be listed, by chemical identity and common name.

    Hazards

    • The third section identifies exposure hazards. The entry routes of the chemical and organs it targets must be included in this section. It also lists effects if exposed to the eyes, skin, inhaled or ingested, as well as any medical conditions exposure may aggravate. The MSDS must also indicate whether or not the chemical is a known carcinogen and any chronic effects it may have.

    First Aid & Fire Fighting

    • The fourth section details first-aid procedures for all of the types of exposure listed in the hazard section. The fifth section contains various important information for the prevention of a fire and what to do if one should break out. This includes the product's flash point, flammable limits, the temperature at which it will ignite without a spark and what to use to extinguish the fire.

    Accidental Releases & Storage

    • The sixth section details procedures for cleanup and containment of spills and leaks and includes information about the regulatory requirements of cleanup and containment. The seventh section details proper handling and storage requirements, as well as regulatory requirements regarding handling and storage of the chemical.

    Exposure Control

    • The eighth section details the required safety equipment to handle the chemical, including protective clothing, respirators and ventilation. It also includes procedures on dealing with contaminated equipment.

    Physical Properties & Stability

    • The ninth section details all properties of the chemical, including its physical state, appearance and odor, freezing point and viscosity, as well as much more. The 10th section relates to the chemical's stability and reactivity, including the likelihood of decomposition, what chemicals to avoid to prevent a reaction, known hazardous byproducts, and conditions that can lead to hazardous polymerization.

    Toxicological & Ecological Information

    • The 11th section contains information about the acute effects exposure may produce, as well as any availability about toxicity as a result of repeated exposures. The 12th section covers the effects of the chemical on the environment, including its soil absorption and ecotoxicity.

    Disposal & Transportation

    • The 13th section contains all important information regarding safe disposal of the chemical. The 14th includes a list of the chemical's hazard class, shipping name and symbols, Department of Transportation authorizations and other provisions.

    Regulatory Data

    • The 15th section details any Environmental Protection Agency or OSHA regulations regarding the product and its handling, disposal and spill containment. It also includes any other regulations that may be imposed on the product.

    Final Notes

    • The 16th and final section contains any remaining miscellaneous comments that may not have fit in the other sections and tells who prepared the MSDS and who reviewed it for medical accuracy and industrial-hygiene standards.

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