A fairly typical example of a Hazard Communications’ MSDS “station” put up and never used or dusted.
Industrial sites put up the “Right-To-Know Information Station,” shelf or cabinet while construction companies haul around a copy of their binder in a job box or on the shelf of the office trailer. It doesn’t matter what sector of employment or how the employer stores the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) because the truth is the information is not used as it was intended by OSHA. I’ll guess that 99% of the binders out there are collecting dust just like the one in the photo.
MSDS sheets had their true time and place in the mid-1980’s when they were first required by OSHA in the Hazard Communications Standard (1983) and by the EPA’s Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act (1986) – and for good reasons as this information was not easily available. But, that time has gone; electronic media has made the dusty old collection of data sheets obsolete.
I’m not discounting OSHA’s requirement for an employees’ right-to-know. A review of an MSDS sheet makes for a great safety talk. (Hint: before you review an actual chemical being used on site, go over an MSDS for something fun like beer or fireworks or even WD-40). And, if there are “exotic” chemicals on site – Yes, the MSDS must be reviewed on a regular basis so employees will remember what to do when handling or during emergencies.
But aren’t there better ways to provide the MSDS information – inexpensively – without hauling these dusty binders around that no one updates or looks at?
Tags: Hazard Communications, MSDS, OSHA
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Having an electronic version of the MSDS information is a great idea. But I still think you should have the paper version ready to go, in case someone has a question but doesn’t have access to a computer at the moment. The more places the information can be found, the easier it is for employees to be informed.