Material Safety Data Sheets, or MSDSs, contain several key pieces of information about chemical products: 1) Identification of the product and manufacturer contact details. 2) Composition listing of ingredients and associated hazard identification codes. 3) Health and physical hazard information, first aid measures, and recommendations for safe handling and storage. 4) Disposal considerations to safely manage waste in accordance with regulations. MSDSs provide standardized chemical information but are not a substitute for a full risk assessment when using products. Their recommendations should be considered in light of the actual application and quantities involved.

1. Material Safety Data SheetsMaterial Safety Data Sheets
MSDS – what you need to know
about them

2. Preparation:Preparation:
Before you go any further, it would be
helpful to download:
◦ Data sheet (click here) – to view the data
sheet you will need to be in slide show, press
F5
◦ This product, used as an example, is a
commercial cleaning product containing some
hazardous chemicals

3. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Identification of the product
Teepol Aluminium Cleaner
◦ - sales unit and stock code
◦ - address and contact details for the supplier

4. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Composition/ information on ingredients. (Exact
formulations & details of non-hazardous components not required
– protects from rival manufacturers)
 CAS & EINECS are identifications codes
 Risk phrases (from CHIP data- see later)
 Alcohol Ethoxylate <1%
 Phosphoric acid 15 – 30%
 Benzotriazole <1%
 Formaldehyde <1%

5. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Hazards identified (i.e. those known about
when the product is used in the way the
manufacturer intends)
Irritating to eye and skin
Large amounts could be hazardous to aquatic
environment

6. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
First aid measures
◦ Eyes - irrigate with water 10-15 minutes
◦ Skin – remove gloves and wash
◦ Ingestions – plenty of water to drink
 (This is incorrect - should be small sips!!)
◦ Inhalation- remove to fresh air
Always check out first aid information with
your Departmental First Aider or Safety
Services

7. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Fire fighting measures
The material is non-flammable
If involved in a fire anyway, it may produce
hydrogen chloride (an acid gas)
Breathing apparatus is relevant
to the Fire Service – not us!

8. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Measures for spillage or accidental release
Spillage
◦ contain with sand or earth
◦ Beware of slipping hazard
◦ Do not allow to go down the drains (report
any significant leakage down the drains to the water authorities – take
advice)
You will need to ensure that your
department stocks appropriate materials to
deal with these incidents.

9. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Handling and storage
Store away from food
Tightly closed containers
Away from children
At temperatures between 5o
C & 30o
C
Shelf life 1 year
In this case, largely “common sense”
information but for some products it could
be more critical

10. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Exposure controls &/or personal protective
equipment (PPE)
◦ These are standard safety signs denoting the need to
wear gloves, face shield and protective clothing.
◦ NB It does not tell you what sortsort of gloves are
appropriate. You would need to find this out by
consulting a gloves manufacturer regarding the
hazardous materials in the product – see the
“Guidance” section of Safety Services website

11. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Physical & Chemical Properties
◦ Appearance – what it looks like
◦ pH – acidity/alkalinity of the product – a pH
of <1 denotes significant acidity
◦ Flash point – it is not flammable
◦ Density (>1 means it is more dense than
water)

12.
In terms of hazard, both high pHs (strong alkali) and low
pHs (strong acid) are nasty. For substances with pHs
around 7 acidity & alkalinity are not generally a problem.

13. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Stability & reactivity
No stability concerns – it won’t “go off”
Avoid contact with strong oxidisers,
chlorine & chlorine products – nasty gases
possible
Contact with some alloys may produce
hydrogen – explosion potential because of
low pH! (but not in normal use)

14. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Toxicological information (what nasty things will it
do to you?)
Irritating to organic tissue (skin & eyes)
Inhalation of aerosol may cause irritation
Ingestion – irritation to mouth & digestive tract (it’s
a strong acid)
Eye contact – may cause severe irritation (acid
again!)
Skin contact – irritation!
Connected with first aid information here, but in
some circumstances, may give details of longer
term medical problems, where appropriate

15. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Ecological information
How environmentally friendly is it?
◦ Biodegrades – does not remain in soil etc
◦ Don’t release into surface waters
eg detergents can cause unsightly rivers and may
affect waterproofing of water birds

16. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Disposal considerations
◦ Use suitable PPE (see previous information)
◦ Rinse out containers
◦ Don’t allow to enter drains
◦ Dispose of according to local regulations
◦ Do not mix with other waste
This is not as formidable as it
sounds – a bit of advice from Safety Services
or Estates will help

17. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Transport information
◦ None
◦ Where substances need special consideration
for transport, it will be detailed here – usually
only applicable to larger quantities

18. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Regulatory information
◦ Irritant to eyes and skin
◦ Keep away from children
◦ First aid information
◦ These are “risk phrases” associated with the
CHIP regulations – simple advice phrases
◦ There may also be symbols – as here ,
indicating “irritant”.

19. Risk phrases - examplesRisk phrases - examples
 R1: Explosive when dry
 R2: Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire
or other sources of ignition
 R3: Extreme risk of explosion by shock,
friction, fire or other sources of ignition
 R4: Forms very sensitive explosive metallic
compounds
 R5: Heating may cause an explosion
 R6: Explosive with or without contact with air
 R7: May cause fire
 R8: Contact with combustible material may
cause fire
 R9: Explosive when mixed with combustible
material
 R10: Flammable
 R11: Highly flammable
 R12: Extremely flammable
 R14: Reacts violently with water
 R15: Contact with water liberates extremely
flammable gases
 R20: Harmful by inhalation
 R21: Harmful in contact with skin
 R22: Harmful if swallowed
 R23: Toxic by inhalation
 R24: Toxic in contact with skin
 R25: Toxic if swallowed
 R26: Very toxic by inhalation
 R27: Very toxic in contact with skin
 R28: Very toxic if swallowed
 R29: Contact with water liberates toxic gas.
 R30: Can become highly flammable in use
 R31: Contact with acids liberates toxic gas
 R32: Contact with acids liberates very toxic
gas
 Up to: -
 R66: Repeated exposure may cause skin
dryness or cracking
 R67: Vapours may cause drowsiness and
dizziness
 R68: Possible risk of irreversible effects

20. What do MSDSs contain?What do MSDSs contain?
Other information (variable)
In this case it tells you its immediate
application and how to use it

21. REMEMBERREMEMBER
MSDS’s are NOTNOT Risk Assessments!
They make no distinction between a gram
and a tonne of a substance.
When using substances you must carry out
a risk assessment but use the information in
MDSD’s to help you.
Controls should be proportional to riskControls should be proportional to risk!
Not all MSDS’s contain comprehensive.
information, although they should have!
If in doubt, alwaysalways consult an expert.