UNDERSTANDING SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS)
Chemicals have become an indispensable part of human life and development, we cannot imagine life without medicines, pesticides, plastics to name a few which are made from a combination of Chemicals. The most important danger about chemicals is that they behave differently under different conditions, so all personnel working with chemicals either in manufacturing, handling, storage, transportation need to understand the intrinsic properties of chemicals they are working with to avoid any potential hazards, any misuse can result in accidents which can be minor or major.
Communication of hazards to the personnel working with chemicals will help them to understand the hazards arising out from the intrinsic properties of chemical substances or mixtures and accordingly help them take controls and precautionary measures. One such hazard communicating tool about the chemical is the SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS) also called as MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS) provides comprehensive information about the chemical substance or mixture which is used as a source of information on hazards and all relevant SAFETY PRECAUTIONS to be taken while handling the chemical.
An MSDS or SDS contains the following information which is categorized into 16 SECTIONS.
- IDENTIFICATION
- HAZARD(S) IDENTIFICATION
- COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
- FIRST-AID MEASURES
- FIRE-FIGHTING MEASURES
- ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
- HANDLING AND STORAGE
- EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
- PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
- STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
- TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
- ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
- DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
- TRANSPORT INFORMATION
- REGULATORY INFORMATION
- OTHER INFORMATION.
SECTION – 1 (PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Identity of the product
2. Relevant uses of the substance or mixture and where it not be used
3. Supplier details
4. Emergency telephone number
SECTION – 2 (HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Classification of the substance or mixture
2. Label Elements and precautionary statements
3. Other hazards
SECTION – 3 (COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Substance chemical identity and other names used for chemical.
2. Mixtures (concentration of all ingredients).
SECTION – 4 (FIRST AID MEASURES)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. First-aid measures to be taken according to the different routes of exposure
2. Symptoms, Acute and Chronic effects
3. Indication of Immediate medical attention/ other special precautions.
SECTION – 5 (FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Suitable extinguishing media which can be used
2. Extinguishing media not to be used (unsuitable)
3. Specific hazards arising out of the chemical
4. Indication of Immediate medical attention/ other special precautions to be taken
SECTION – 6 (ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Suitable Personal Protective Equipment to be used
2. Emergency procedure to be adopted
3. Precautions to be taken to protect the environment
4. Use of Materials and Methods for cleaning up and containment
SECTION – 7 (HANDLING AND STORAGE)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Precautions to be taken for safe handling
2. Conditions for safe storage after considering Incompatibilities
SECTION – 8 (EXPOSURE CONTROLS AND PERSONAL PROTECTION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Occupational Exposure limit values
2. Appropriate engineering controls
3. Personal protection equipment to be used
SECTION – 9 (PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Physical and chemical properties
a. Odour
b. pH
c. Initial Boiling point and range
d. Flashpoint
e. Evaporation rate
f. Vapour pressure
g. Flammability limits
h. Vapour and relative density
i. Autoignition temperature
j. Partition coefficient
k. Viscosity
SECTION – 10 (STABILITY AND REACTIVITY)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Reactivity and chemical stability
2. Possibility of hazardous reactions
3. Sensitivity of the chemical to different conditions
4. Incompatible materials
5. Hazardous decomposition products
SECTION – 11 (TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Information on likely routes of exposure
2. Information on toxicological effects (acute and chronic)
3. Numerical measures of toxicity
SECTION – 12 (ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Ecotoxicity
2. Persistence and degradability
3. Bioaccumulative potential
4. Mobility in soil
5. Other adverse effects
SECTION – 13 (DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Safe handling and methods of disposal
2. Disposal of contaminated packing
SECTION – 14 (TRANSPORT INFORMATION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. UN number and UN shipping name
2. Transport hazard class
3. Packing group if applicable
4. Environment hazards
5. Special precautions during transport
SECTION – 15 (REGULATORY INFORMATION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Safety, health and environmental regulations specific to this product
SECTION – 16 (OTHER INFORMATION)
This section helps in getting the information about the
1. Preparation and revision of MSDS
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MSDS AS PER INDIAN STATUTORY REQUIREMENT
The statutory requirement in India to provide SDS (SAFETY DATA SHEET) is as per the 9 SECTION FORMAT outlined in SCHEDULE 9 of “The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989” coming under ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1986
The 9 SECTION FORMAT consists of
1. SECTION 1: CHEMICAL IDENTITY
2. SECTION 2: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DATA
3. SECTION 3: FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA
4. SECTION 4: REACTIVITY DATA
5. SECTION 5: HEALTH HAZARD DATA
6. SECTION 6: PREVENTIVE MEASURES
7. SECTION 7: EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID MEASURES
8. SECTION 8: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ REFERENCES
9. SECTION 9: MANUFACTURER/ SUPPLIER DATA
India has taken steps to adopt a more INTERNATIONAL comprehensive system of CLASSIFYING and LABELLING CHEMICALS as per the GHS (GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM),
India released a draft document “The Draft Chemicals (Management and Safety) Rules published in 2020” which adopts SDS as 16 section formats to align as per GHS (GLOBALLY HARMONISED SYSTEM).
WHAT IS GHS (GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM)
GHS is developed by UNITED NATIONS to have a common HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD universally. This will ensure that chemical regulations adopted by each country across the world will align with the GHS system so that chemicals can be transported between countries using the same classification criteria with chemicals. The main information that is provided by UN -GHS
1.To define physical, health and environmental hazards of chemicals and provide classification criteria
2. To communicate health and safety information through labels
3. To communicate health and safety information through safety data sheets
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Article by PJ Mohan
Sr.Faculty, NIFS
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