What is a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?

A material safety data sheet is a technical document which provides detailed and comprehensive information on a controlled product related to:

•  Health effects of exposure to the product

•  Hazard evaluation related to the product’s handling, storage or use

•  Measure to protect workers at risk of exposure

•  Emergency procedures.

The data sheet may be written, printed or otherwise expressed, and must meet the availability, design and content requirements of WHMIS legislation. The legislation provides for flexibility of design and wording but requires that a minimum number of categories of information be completed and that all hazardous ingredients meeting certain criteria be listed subject to exemptions granted under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act.

The Purpose of the Data Sheet

The data sheet is the second element of the WHMIS information delivery system and is intended to supplement the alert information provided on labels. The third element of the system is the education of employees in hazard information on controlled products, including instruction in the content andsignificance of information on the MSDS.

Organic Compounds

Inorganic Compounds

Indicators