The document summarizes proposed changes to the ANSI Z400.1 standard for material safety data sheets. Key changes include rearranging some sections, adding new data types to be included, increasing consistency with international standards like GHS, and simplifying language and examples. The standard will go through ANSI's canvassing process in 2003 with a goal of publication of the revised standard by late 2003.

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