If you work around potentially hazardous substances, you are familiar with material safety data sheet (MSDS) forms. Every chemical substance in your workplace should come with an MSDS from either the manufacturer, importer, or distributor. If you’re working with a metal supplier, they will send MSDS sheets that include the chemical components of the steel, such as aluminum, zinc, iron, and lead. Below is more information about these forms and how to read them.

What You Should Know About Material Safety Data Sheets

Why Do Employers Keep Them?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the agency that oversees safety in the workplace, and they set the requirements for what an MSDS includes. Employers must keep them on hand to protect employees’ safety.

Why Are They Significant?

An MSDS from your metal supplier includes information about how to use, handle, store, and dispose of the components of that metal safely.  All employees should know what risks come with the material, and what you or emergency responders, such as firefighters, should do in an accident. 

Where Do You Find Them?

First, an employer must ensure that everyone who may handle a chemical knows where the MSDS forms are, and can quickly access them. Many employers keep them in a three-ring binder or a file cabinet. They can also be in computer files. You should ask your employer where they are and how to use them. 

How Do You Read an MSDS?

To make it easier to read, every MSDS has the same format. The sheet has 16 sections that organize the information about that particular chemical. The name of the chemical is at the top of the sheet. It should match the label on the product. This is usually the primary substance name, like Poly Sheet. A few of the most significant sections are below.

• Section I: This has the manufacturer’s name and contact information. This is essential if you have questions about the product, especially during an emergency.
• Section II: You will find characteristics of the chemical here, including its ingredients, boiling point, vapor pressure, appearance, and odor, and what other chemicals you should not mix with it.
• Section IV: Here, there is vital information about what to do during an emergency, such as first-aid measures, how to extinguish a fire, and what to do if there is an explosion.
• Section VI: Potential health hazards and how you should safely handle, store, and dispose of the chemical is in this area. It will also include requirements for protective clothing, ventilation, and hygiene.

If you have questions about MSDS or need a reliable metal supplier, American Metal Supply in Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY, can help. They specialize in stainless steel, as well as galvanized and aluminum sheets. Call (502) 634-4321 with questions or requests. Visit their new, revamped website for more information about the company and its products.