Introduction
With the huge number of hazardous materials in existence, it is impossible
for anybody to become an expert on all of them. For this reason, workers
and emergency response teams need a ready source of information that
identifies the hazards and response procedures for any given material.
The Hazard
Communications Standard issued by OSHA in 1986 requires the presence
of material safety data sheets at any workplace where hazardous materials
are used. This document contains information regarding the specific
identity of the product, including information on health effects,
first aid, chemical and physical properties,
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and emergency telephone numbers for additional information or help.
However, until recently no specific guidelines for the organization
of this information were available, and users often found the documents
inconsistent and hard to understand.
In 1993, the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) passed a consensus standard,
Z400.1-1993, Standard for Hazardous Industrial Chemicals-Material
Safety Data. This standard organizes the MSDS into sections and
explains what information must be provided in each section.
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About
the film
"Understanding MSDS" is designed to provide
training to anyone who, in the course of their duties, may need to use
a material safety data sheet. Comprehensive and up to date, it explains
how the document is organized into 16 sections, and tells what information
must be included in each section. An accompanying Leader's Guide includes
sample MSDS and provides suggestions for activities to reinforce the
training offered in the video, as well as an extensive glossary of the
sometimes cryptic terms used in MSDS. |
After going through this training program, students will be able to
quickly find in an MSDS the information needed to respond effectively
to any situation involving a hazardous product regardless of the manufacturer
of that product. This will benefit the worker, the workplace, the community
and the environment. |