SESSION 3

HAZARD INFORMATION

Upon completion of this session, you will learn how to access and read Material Safety Data Sheets, labels and warning placards so that you will be able to understand the hazards of the chemicals you handle.  It should take you about 20 minutes to complete this session.  When you have read through the material, you will be asked to answer 5 questions.

Material Safety Data Sheets

An MSDS is a source of information on health and physical hazards.  It is a technical bulletin detailing information about a hazardous chemical.

• Every chemical manufacturer or importer must develop or obtain an MSDS for each hazardous chemical it supplies.
• As an employer, LBNL must provide MSDSs for each hazardous chemical in the workplace.
• The Lab meets this requirement by providing MSDSs with its EH&S MSDS Web Page

• It may outline only the minimum precautions for safe handling of the chemical in the sections on fire and explosion hazards, spill or leak procedures, special protection information, and special precautions.
• If LBNL policy or your judgment suggests more stringent procedures, these stringent procedures should be used.
• You should never assume the substance is hazard-free. When no mention of a particular health effect is made in the MSDS, it may be due to the non availability of test results when the MSDS was prepared. Testing of the substance is not required to create an MSDS.
• You should expect a completed MSDS with no blank spaces
• In many cases the emergency first aid procedures and handling precautions are written to deal with a worst case scenario, such as extensive exposure.

The MSDS must include, at a minimum, all eight of the following sections.  The style and layout may vary.  However, every section must be filled in, even if the item is not applicable (indicated by N/A).  There should be no blank spaces!  Note that some of the information, such as the chemical family, may be included, but is not required.  Remember that the information on the MSDS is prepared by the manufacturer of the product.  Therefore, some data sheets contain excellent information, some are adequate, and others are not as complete.  Other sources of data on toxic and health effects (such as Micromedix tomes - available on the EH&S MSDS web site) should be consulted for more complete information.

Product Identity

The name of the product as it appears on the label. A product may be a pure substance or a mixture of two or more chemicals.

Hazardous Ingredients

If the product is a mixture, all hazardous ingredients must be listed. However, ingredients that are not hazardous, or make up less than 1% of the product (less than 0.1% for carcinogens), do not have to be reported.

Exposure standards, i.e., Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are included in this section, or under Health Hazards. Note the higher the number for a TLV or PEL, the less hazardous the substance. See the Glossary for definitions of TLV and PEL.

Physical Data

This section contains information to help predict the behavior of the material in experimental situations.

• Boiling Point: The temperature at which a liquid changes to a vapor at a given pressure (eg: water is 100 degrees celsius); A low boiling point may be a special fire hazard.
• Vapor Pressure: A high vapor pressure indicates easy evaporation.
• Vapor Density: Tells whether the material is heavier or lighter than air. If heavier than air, the material will concentrate in low places, such as floors, elevator shafts, sewers, or the bottom of tanks.
• Volatility: A substance that is 100% volatile, will evaporate completely, leaving no residues.
• Evaporation Rate: If the number is greater than the reference (butyl acetate), the product evaporates more easily than the comparison material.
• Solubility in Water: A measure of how readily a substance dissolves in water.
• Specific Gravity: For insoluble materials, a specific gravity of less than one means the material is lighter than water and will float. Greater than one means it sinks in water.
• Melting Point: The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid under normal room conditions. (eg: water is 0 degrees celsius)
• Appearance and Odor: Do not rely on odor to alert you to a dangerous exposure. Some substances can reach hazardous levels and have no noticeable odor.

Fire and Explosion Hazard Data

This section indicates whether the material is flammable. If you work with solvents, peroxides, explosives, metal dusts, or other unstable substances, this section is very important.

• Flash Point: The lowest temperature at which the material gives off enough vapor to ignite
• Flammable or Explosive Limits: The range over which a flammable vapor, when mixed with the proper proportions of air, will flash or explode if ignited.
• Extinguishing Media: Indicates what type of fire extinguisher to use, such as water, fog, foam, alcohol foam, carbon dioxide, or dry chemical.
• Special Firefighting Procedures: Special handling procedures, personal protective equipment, and unsuitable firefighting substances should be listed.
• Unusual Fire and Explosive Hazards: Hazards that might occur as a result of overheating or burning of the material, including any chemical reactions or change in chemical form or composition.

Reactivity Data

This section provides information that will help you handle and store the material to prevent dangerous reactions. Information is provided on:

• Stability: will indicate whether the material is stable or unstable and under what conditions instability occurs.
• Incompatibility: Lists materials and conditions to avoid.
• Hazardous Decomposition Products: hazardous materials that may be produced if the material is exposed to burning, oxidation, heating, or certain chemical reactions.
• Hazardous Polymerization: are chemical reaction in which two or more molecules of a substance combine to causes an uncontrolled release of energy (heat).

Health Hazard Data (see chemical toxicology for additional information).  This section lists routes of entry ( inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion ), and gives signs and symptoms of overexposure, such as skin rash, tremors or dizziness.

Precautions for Handling

This section provides instructions for safe handling and storage, lists methods, special equipment, and precautions necessary to control and clean up spills, leaks, and other releases.

Control Measures

This section lists personal protective equipment, such as proper gloves, safety glasses, or respirators, ventilation necessary to work safely with the material, and work/ hygienic practices that are essential for protecting you from overexposure.

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