What Does an MSDS Number Tell You?
A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a form that contains data regarding the properties of a given substance. The information on the form is intended to provide employees with enough knowledge to work with the substance safely.
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MSDS in the Workplace
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Work environments in which employees deal with potentially hazardous substance tend to require MSDSs of all on-site substances, as MSDSs contain information about how to react in cases of unwanted exposure to a substance.
Occupational Specificity
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MSDSs are written specifically for those who deal with a substance in a professional or occupational capacity. Though the specifications on MSDSs vary by country and jurisdiction, overall, they comprise an organized catalogue of pertinent safety information about work-related chemicals and chemical compounds.
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MSDS Numbers
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In the United States, the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) assigns a number to each chemical substance for identification purposes. Because MSDS sheets use CAS numbers to refer to substances, an MSDS number is identical to its CAS number. This numerical standardization makes information about a given chemical more organized and accessible.
Contents
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In the U.S., MSDSs contain information about the chemical ingredients, methods of hazardous exposure, degree of carcinogenicity, symptoms of overexposure, first-aid treatment, how to proceed in case of a spill or leak, methods of disposal, handling and storage precautions, preventive safety measures, reactivity to other chemicals, transportation and regulatory measures regarding a specific chemical substance.
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References
Resources
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