1. W hat T he !@#$
%^&* Is A MSDS?
How to Read and Interpret a
Material Safety Data Sheet!

2. •Objective
 to concisely inform you about the
hazards of materials you work with so
that you can protect yourself and
respond to an emergency
 acts as a “crystal ball” - if you study it,
you will see the future

3. •Purpose
 the material’s physical properties or fastacting health effects that make it
dangerous to handle
 the level of protective gear you need
 the first aid treatment to be provided
when you are exposed to a hazard
 the preplanning needed for safely
handling spills, fires, and day-to-day
operations

4. •A Material is
Considered Hazardous
If--
 specifically listed in the law, 29CFR Part
1910, Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous
Substances (the Z list)
 assigned a Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
by the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Inc
(ACGIH)

5.  determined to be cancer causing,
corrosive, toxic, an irritant, a sensitizer,
or has damaging effects on specific body
organs

6. •The MSDS Format
 must be in English
 have a heading
 cover 16 different informational
categories

7. •Heading
 name and address of
the manufacturer
 telephone numbers
 transportation
emergency number
 nontransportation
information and
emergency numbers

8. •Categories of
Information
1. Chemical Production Information
 product name
 product code
 chemical family
 chemical name
 synonyms
 formula

9. Chemical Product
Information

10. Categories
2. Composition/Information on Ingredients





ingredient name
CAS number
exposure limits
concentration (%)
names of hazardous ingredients

11. Composition/Informatio
n on Ingredients

12. Categories
3. Hazards Identification


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
emergency overview,i.e.,Danger! Toxic
potential health effects
routes of entry
human effects & symptoms of overexposure
acute effects of overexposure
chronic effects of overexposure
carcinogenicity
medical conditions aggravated by exposure

13. Hazards Identification

14. Categories
4. First Aid Measures





first aid for eyes
first aid for skin
first aid for inhalation
first aid for ingestion
note to physician

15. First Aid Measures

16. Categories
5. Fire Fighting Measures


flash point
flammable limits
 upper explosive limit (UEL)(%)
 lower explosive limit (LEL)(%)
 extinguishing media
 special fire fighting procedures

17. Fire Fighting Measures

18. Categories
6. Accidental Release Measures
 spill or leak procedures

19. Categories
7. Handling and Storage




storage temperature (min/max)
shelf life
special sensitivity
handling/storage precautions

20. Handling and Storage

21. Categories
8. Personal Protection






eye protection requirements
skin protection requirements
ventilation requirements
respirator requirements
medical surveillance
additional protective measures

22. PPE

23. PPE

24. Categories
9. Physical and Chemical Properties




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
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
physical form
color
odor
odor threshold
molecular weight
boiling point
melting/freezing point
solubility in water

25. 




specific gravity
bulk density
% volatile by volume
vapor pressure
vapor density

26. Physical and Chemical
Properties

27. Categories
10. Stability and Reactivity





stability
hazardous polymerization
incompatibilities
instability conditions
decomposition products

28. Stability and
Reactivity

29. Categories
11. Toxicological Information
 Acute Toxicity
 oral LD50
 dermal LD50
 inhalation LC50
 eye effects
 skin effects
 sensitization
 Subchronic Toxicity
 Chronic Toxicity

30. 




Carcinogenicity
Mutagenicity
Developmental Toxicity
Reproduction
Neurotoxicity

31. Toxicological
Information

34. Categories
12. Ecological Information

35. 13. Disposal Information

36. Categories
14. Transportation Information




technical shipping name
freight class package
product label
DOT (Domestic Surface)
 proper shipping name
 UN/UA number
 packing group
 DOT product RQ lbs. (kgs)
 hazard label(s)

37.  hazard placard(s)
 IMO / IMDG Code (Ocean)
 proper shipping name
 hazard class division number
 UN number
 packing group
 hazard(s)
 hazard placard(s)
 ICAO / IATA (Air)
 proper shipping name

38.  hazard class division number
 UN number
 subsidiary risk
 packing group
 hazard label(s)
 radioactivity
 passenger air - max. qty
 passenger packing instructions
 cargo air - max. qty
 cargo passenger packing instructions

44. Categories
15. Regulatory Information



OSHA status
TSCA status
CERLA Reportable Quantity
 SARA Title III



Section 302 Extremely Hazardous Substances
Section 311/312 Hazard Categories
Section313
 RCRA Status

45. Regulatory
Information

47. Categories
16. Other Information

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
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

NFPA 704M Ratings
Reason for Issue
Prepared by:
Approved by:
Title:
Approval Date:
Supersedes Date
MSDA number

48. Other Information

49. Disclaimers
 no warranties,
expressed or implied

50. MSDS
 is an OSHA document
 not an EPA document
 not part of the labeling unless received at
the time of purchase

51. READ THE
LABEL! Label!
Read The

52. UNDERSTAND
THE
LABEL

53. FOLLOW
THE
LABEL

54. Their Legacy is the Land. May they
Find it as Beautiful and as Bountiful
as their Forbearers Did

55. Mary L. Grodner,
Ph.D.
Pesticide Coordinator
LSU AgCenter
225/578-2180 phone
225/578-7829 fax
mgrodner@agctr.lsu.edu
www.agctr.lsu.edu