Material Safety Data Sheet Preparation:
About Material Safety Data Sheets and MSDS Authoring in Canada
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document that must be prepared and supplied with each hazardous chemical supplied to a workplace in Canada, the United States and member states of the European Community. The MSDS must contain specific sections of information that provide the user with the contents of the product, safe handling information, first aid, disposal and other information. In Canada, the MSDS must be updated at least every 3 years or when the formulation changes. There is no renewal period in the United States for OSHA MSD sheets. In the EU, the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) must be updated when the formulation, regulations or data changes.
MSD sheets are part of the right-to-know system that must be in place. You are required to keep workplace inventories of all hazardous materials and label products appropriately.
Some advantages of proper compliance:
- Protection of your employees
- Meeting your customer's needs for safe transport, storage and handling
- Reducing your legal liability
