What Are the Date Requirements for an MSDS?
A Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS, is an informational document that the manufacturer of a hazardous chemical or product prepares. The U.S. Occupational and Safety Health Administration requires that MSDS documents be displayed openly in any workplace that uses hazardous chemicals.
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Date Requirement
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OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard states that all MSDS documents should include the date when the MSDS was prepared or the date of the last change made to it. This date requirement is necessary because an MSDS is considered a reference of the most accurate and current information about a specific hazardous chemical available.
Information Updates
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An MSDS is provided by the manufacturer with the initial shipment of the hazardous chemical to the user. MSDS documents are updated, including the date, whenever the required information on the data sheet changes. An updated MSDS is then provided to the user with the next shipment of the chemical.
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Responsibility
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The Hazard Communication Standard places the duty of providing the most updated MSDS documents on the manufacturers and distributors of hazardous chemicals. An MSDS lacking the date of preparation or the date of any changes made to required information is in violation of the HCS.
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References
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