Material safety data sheet [MSDS] certification services

Courtesy: Material safety data sheet [MSDS] certification services

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 and significance of information on the MSDS

Responsibilities Related to the MSDS
Suppliers

1. Develop or obtain a MSDS for each controlled product imported or sold for use in a
   workplace
2. Ensure the MSDS for the controlled product:
    Discloses information that is current at the time of sale or importation of the
   product
    Was prepared and dated not more than three years before the date of sale or
   importation
    Is available in both official languages
3. Ensure the purchaser of the controlled product has a copy of the current MSDS at the
   time of or prior to the purchaser receiving the controlled product
4. Make available any information that is considered confidential (trade secret)
   information and therefore exempt from disclosure to any physician or nurse who
   requests that information for the purpose or making a medical diagnosis or providing
   medical treatment
   Employer
5. Ensures that an up-to-date supplier MSDS is obtained from the supplier the first time
   a controlled product is received in the workplace
6. Evaluates the data sheet received to determine its date of production. The data
   sheet must be dated within 3 years of current date
7. Maintains up-to-date MSDSs:
8. As soon as practical but no later than 90 days after new hazard information
9. becomes available to the employer
10.  At least every three years
11. Ensures a copy of all data sheets which are required for the workplace are made
    readily available at the worksite to:
     Workers who may be exposed to the controlled product
     The occupational health committee (OHC)
    Note: The MSDSs may be made available on a computer if the employer takes all
    reasonable steps to keep the terminal in working order, makes the data sheets
    readily available to the employee and provides training in accessing the computer
    stored data to the employee.
12. Ensure that the employee who works with a controlled product or in proximity to a
    controlled product is instructed in:
     The content required on the MSDS
     The purpose and significance of information contained in it
    Instruction must ensure that employees know procedures for the safe use, storage,
    handling and disposal of controlled products including procedures in the event of an
    emergency involving a controlled product.
13. Provide confidential (trade secret) information to a doctor or nurse who request this
    information for purposes of making a medical diagnosis or rendering medical
    treatment in an emergency
14. The employer can produce data sheets in order to provide additional information or
    alter the format used as long as there is no less information provided than the
    original supplier MSDS contained