Detail business owners need to keep, read and understand the material safety data sheets (MSDS) that come with the chemicals they use to ensure their own safety, as well their employees. The growing emphasis on safety in the workplace and enforcement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have a number of benefits for detailers, including valuable knowledge about the ingredients in detailing chemicals, and the precautions, concerns and procedures workers should take when using a chemical or in the case of an emergency.
This awareness of MSDS can be compared to the increased knowledge consumers have about foods as a result of the nutrition labels the Food and Drug Administration requires on all retail food packages. However, there are still many detailers who do not know exactly what information is listed on a MSDS nor the most effective way to use a particular chemical.
While there is invaluable information on the MSDS regarding active ingredients and how they can be harmful, the sheets should be used for more than just emergencies. Detail business owners are required by law to let their employees know what chemicals and ingredients they are using, along with their potential hazards and what to do if exposed to the chemical.
Be Safe, Not Sorry
OSHA requires that MSDS be available and understood by all employees where potentially harmful substances are used or handled in a detail operation. The information on the sheets can help you evaluate and select chemicals that are safest to use.
Keep in mind this is a great way for business owners to keep insurance and liability costs down and lessen the chance of a lawsuit. Following the law helps protect and ensure the health and safety of your employees.
For example, if a detail employee complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing at work, and a new cleaning chemical had recently been introduced in the shop, it might be initially believed that this was the cause of the problem. However, a review of the MSDS could indicate that such a reaction to the new chemical is rare, making it incumbent to look elsewhere for the cause of the problem.
The MSDS
There is no required format to a MSDS, although OSHA does recommend using the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) format. When OSHA required chemical manufacturers to provide MSDS, it stipulated that information be in English and contain a minimum of required information about the potentially hazardous chemicals or ingredients in the chemical. The lack of a common format can be difficult for detail business owners because one MSDS may be different from another. Moreover, there is no independent audit of the information on the MSDS, so accuracy should be double-checked if there are doubts.
Essentially a MSDS is divided into nine or 16 sections, each dealing with specific product information. The 16-part version will be the norm in the future. Here is what to look for on a MSDS, using the ANSI format:
Chemical Identity. The first item on the sheet is the chemical identity. This identifies the substance as it appears on the label.
Section 1: Product and Company Identification. This section identifies the chemical manufacturer, including emergency contacts, and also may list code registration numbers.
Section 2: Composition Information on Ingredients. Keep in mind, full ingredient disclosure is not required. They must be listed only when hazardous ingredients are used in a quantity greater than 1 percent, or carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens are used in quantities greater than 0.1 percent. Therefore, you will not find a list of all ingredients on a MSDS. These items will be listed in their common names (which may differ from trade or brand names).
Section 3: Hazardous Identification. This section lists potential health effects. Both acute (immediate exposure) and chronic (long-term exposure) effects must be provided. It can include information such as the route of entry, effects on specific parts of the body, and medical conditions aggravated by long-term exposure.
Section 4: First-aid Measures. The MSDS lists first-aid measures that should be taken if the chemical is inhaled, ingested or makes contact with the eye or skin. This section may also include notes or directions for physicians.
Section 5: Firefighting Measures. If the product is flammable, firefighting procedures, explosive limits, and flash points are listed. Of primary concern to shop owners will be the correct “Extinguishing Media.” This often identifies what type of fire extinguisher a shop should have on hand, whether foam, CO2, dry chemical, etc.
Section 6: Accidental Release Measures. This section includes information on evacuation procedures, spill containment and chemical cleanup/disposal. Large and small spills can be defined, and regulatory clean-up requirements also may be found here.
Section 7: Handling and Storage. This information will explain how to minimize storage hazards, provide appropriate storage temperature, and discuss handling precautions to reduce safety risks.
Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection. This section provides measures on how to reduce the risk of ingestion, eye invasion and skin contact. It also explains engineering requirements, such as ventilation, and makes personal protection recommendations, such as eye protection, gloves, etc.
Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties. This information describes the chemical’s physical state, including pH, color, odors and vapor density. Solubility, boiling and freezing points, viscosity, surface tension, volatility percentage and evaporation rate also may be listed here.
Section 10: Stability and Reactivity. This section discusses the stability of the chemical, its compatibility with other chemicals or products it may come into contact with, and conditions that may cause the chemical to break down or become a hazard.
Section 11: Toxicological Information. This information examines the consequences of short-term and long-term exposure to the chemical.
Section 12: Ecological Information. This section has to do with the environmental effects of the chemical. Items such as biodegradability and aquatic toxicity are reported.
Section 13: Disposal Considerations. The information in this part of the MSDS provides directions and limitations for the proper disposal of the chemical or product.
Section 14: Transportation Information. This area focuses on shipping information relative to hazardous materials.
Section 15: Regulatory Information. This section includes regulatory requirement information, including those from OSHA, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. It also includes Department of Transportation data for shipping.
Section 16: Other Information. This section includes additional pertinent information, such as ratings from the National Fire Protection Association, references, industrial hygiene, medical reviews, and the name of who prepared the MSDS.
It is important to know who prepared the MSDS and when it was prepared. MSDS must be updated every three years or whenever there is a change in the information. Using a product with an outdated MSDS is an accident waiting to happen.
It is extremely important detailers understand the materials they are using to ensure a safe working environment. There are plenty of resources available that can assist business owners become more knowledgeable about chemicals and safety procedures. For example, members of the International Detailing Association have access to an environmental and regulatory page on the IDA’s Web site that includes additional information to help detailers comply with governmental regulations.
Keith Duplessie is technical services manager for Portland, Ore.-based Detail Plus Car Appearance Systems, in charge of all installations, training and technical services. He also serves on the board of directors for the International Detailing Association. Keith can be reached at keith@detailplus.com.
Related Article: