1. Revision of the ANSI Z400.1
Standard for 2003
Society for Chemical Hazard
Communication
Spring 2003

2. History of the Standard
Work Group’s Approach

3. The ANSI Z400.1 Standard
l Developed as a CMA Guideline in early 1990’s
– Approved as a consensus standard by ANSI in
1993
– Revised in 1998
l Provides guidance to MSDS Preparers:
– To develop consistent, understandable MSDSs,
providing useful information to a variety of
audiences
– Companion to ANSI Z129.1 Labeling Standard
l Due for revision in 2003

4. The ANSI Process
l American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
– Does not develop standards
– Provides framework for development and approval
of voluntary consensus standards
l The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is the ANSI
accredited standards developer (sponsor) for this
standard
l ANSI Procedures for the Development and
Coordination of American National Standards.

5. The ANSI Process, cont’d
l ACC is responsible for maintaining the standard by
updating it as necessary on a 5-year cycle.
l Develop consensus for the standard by using ANSI’s
Accredited Canvass Method
l Final approval by ANSI Board of Standards Review

6. ANSI’s Canvass Method
l ACC develops list of potential canvassees by
identifying organizations having an interest in the
standard
l These organizations are contacted, and invited to
participate in the canvass in one of three categories:
* Producer * User * General Interest
l Canvass list includes all who agree to participate
– Previous canvass lists included about 100
participants

7. ANSI’s Canvass Method, cont’d
l The revised standard is sent to the canvass list for
ballot and comment
l All written comments will be considered
l Standard is submitted to ANSI for approval
l To be approved by ANSI, the revised standard must
receive positive votes from a majority of the canvass
list and at least 2/3 of those voting on the revision,
excluding abstentions.

8. Who We Are
l The MSDS Work Group is an ad hoc committee under
the Product Stewardship Team of ACC
l Work group is composed of representatives of 20
member companies of the American Chemistry
Council.
l The group includes toxicologists, product stewardship
managers, and hazard communication experts.
l Membership roster available

9. Considerations
l Improve hazard communication
l Consistency with the OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard
l Consistency with the ANSI Labeling Standard (ANSI
Z129.1-2000)
l Meet the needs of MSDS authors and users

10. Considerations, cont’d
l Alignment with international regulations
– Workplace Hazardous Material Information System
(WHMIS)
– European Council Directive 91/155/EEC
– Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
– ISO
– Others
l Cost of implementation
l Enhanced clarity/readability/consistency of standard

11. Considerations, cont’d
l We met with a representative of OSHA to discuss:
– How we might improve the standard
l More specific guidance
l Reduction in cost of standard
– The impact of the Globally Harmonized System
(GHS)

12. Proposed Changes

13. Section 1:
Product and Company
Identification
No significant changes

14. Section 2: Composition
Section 3: Hazards Identification
(Current)
l Reversal of information in Sections 2 and 3 so that
Hazards Identification appears before Composition
Information
l References that reflect this change were made
accordingly

15. Section 2: Composition
Section 3: Hazards Identification
(Current), cont’d
l Eliminated the option to list exposure guidelines in
the Composition Section
l Moved wording regarding the OSHA hazard
determination process from “Potential heath effects”
to Chapter 3 of the standard.

16. Section 2: Composition
Section 3: Hazards Identification
(Current), cont’d
l Moved OSHA Regulatory Status from Composition to
Hazards Identification
l Added reference to hazard symbols, if used, as
recommended by the GHS
l Deleted examples and edited others to increase
consistency with the labeling standard (ANSI Z129.1-
2000)

17. Section 4:
First Aid Measures
No significant changes

18. Section 5:
Fire Fighting Measures
l Revised wording and examples of the entire section
to improve readability
l Flammable properties now required in Section 9:
Physical and Chemical Properties. May also be
included in Section 5.

19. Section 5:
Fire Fighting Measures, cont’d
l Extinguishing media was expanded to give clear
distinction (with examples) between:
– suitable extinguishing media
– unsuitable extinguishing media

20. Section 5:
Fire Fighting Measures, cont’d
l Protection of Firefighters was expanded into two
separate categories:
– “Specific hazards arising from the chemical”
– “Special protective equipment and precautions for
fire-fighters”

21. Section 6:
Accidental Release Measures
No significant changes

22. Section 7:
Handling and Storage
No significant changes

23. Section 8:
Exposure Controls/
Personal Protection
l Rearrange subsection so that Exposure Guidelines
appear first
l Eliminate option to list exposure guidelines in the
Composition Section
l Modify Exposure Guideline example to increase
consistency and readability

24. Section 9:
Physical and Chemical
Properties
l Flammable properties are now required in this section
– Option to repeat them in Section 5: Fire Fighting
Measures
l Inclusion of other properties where appropriate and
relevant

25. Section 10:
Stability and Reactivity
l Hazardous polymerization subheading replaced with
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions
l Note added to Chemical Stability to define “normal”.
l Note regarding data inclusion added to Conditions to
Avoid with examples

26. Section 11:
Toxicological Information
l More complete and accurate list of data types
– Sensitization
– Developmental toxicity
– Target organ toxicity

27. Section 12:
Ecological Information
l More complete list of data types
– Ecotoxicity
– Persistence/Degradability
– Bioaccumlation/Accumulation
– Mobility in Soil
– Other Adverse Effects
l Simplified examples
l Increased consistency with Section 11: Toxicological
Information

28. Section 13:
Disposal Considerations
No significant changes

29. Section 14:
Transport Information
l Revised elements that should be included, where
applicable:
– Marine pollutant information
– Subsidiary hazard classes

30. Section 14:
Transport Information, cont’d
l Revised optional elements that could be included,
where applicable
– Special precautionary information
– Reference Emergency Response Guides
• DOT “Emergency Response Guide”
• ICAO “Emergency Response Guidance for
Aircraft Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods”
• IMO “Emergency Procedures for Ships
Carrying Dangerous Goods”

31. Section 15: Regulatory
Information
l Included Additional References
– EU information
lClassifications
lSymbols
lRisk Phrases
lSafety Phrases
– Product Registration Data
lChina, Korea, Finland, Norway, Sweden,
Switzerland, New Zealand, etc.

32. Section 16: Other
Information
No significant changes

33. Changes to Other Chapters
l Information in Chapters One and Two combined into
one chapter
l Reduction of number of sample MSDSs
l Update glossary
l Update resources document
l Removal of Annexes C and E

34. Path Forward
l Goal to send draft revised standard to the canvass
for review in the Second Quarter of 2003
l Availability of the draft document will be noted in
ANSI Standards Action at:
www.ansi.org
l Anticipated publication of ANSI Z400.1-2003 in the
Fourth Quarter of 2003