The Safety Data Sheet

The function of a Health and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) [14] is to advise, protect and provide guidelines on the use of a product. The degree of risks and handling procedures in Europe are codified by using a standard list of R risk phrases and S safety phrases in a safety data sheet. However information in Section 2 Composition/Information on 

Ingredients and Section 3 Hazards Identification in a SDS is commonly confused with Section 15 Regulatory Information. Sections 2 and 3 describe listable constituents that are part of the manufacture of a product and the hazards associated with them, but these products may or may not be present as such in the final product. Section 15 is concerned with the final product. Technologists and works engineers should be aware of this, as operatives using SDSs frequently misread them on this account. 

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Health and Safety Data Sheet This document is required to provide anyone who comes into contact with the material with sufficient information needed to react to a spillage or breakage. The labelling and health and safety sheet regulations are not yet consistent through out the world and at the time of writing there is no way to label a product so that it conforms to US, Canadian, European and Australian requirements The Safety data sheet issue is less confused, the U S OSHA and EU forms of the so called material safety data sheet are moving to conform with an I SO Standard. 

This means, if the recovered material is identical to a substance already registered and if the information on hazardous properties is available, e.g., from the safety data sheet, a registration is no longer mandatory. 

This situation does not apply only to Germany. The Health and Safety Executive quotes specific figures for the UK, which give an idea of application of occupational health and safety legislation there In approximately 1.3 nullion British compaiues chemicals are handled. When questioned, only 16% of these compaiues were able to state the applicable law for handling chenucals or the limit values for these substances at the workplace. With regard to the need for protective measures, these 16% also rely almost entirely on the details contained in the safety data sheets. 

The Safety Data Sheet contains information, such as the identity of the dye, possible hazardous components and physicochemical, toxicological, and ecological data, first aid and emergency measures, occupational exposure limits, and information on personal protective equipment [45],... 

Guidance on safe use. Guidance on the safe use of the substance is required and this information should be consistent with the Safety Data Sheet for the following sections ... 

The contents of a Safety Data Sheet may need to be changed from the current format prescribed by the Safety Data Sheet Directive [8], but the list of sections in Article 30 of the Regulation has the same 16 points. 

IFCS in 2000 also recognised the role of information exchange in relation to toxic chemicals in the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. It encouraged its implementation. The Convention went into force in 2004. It requires information prior to export of some 30 chemicals that are listed, most of these with very little circulation. Additions of live chemicals have been very controversial. At the Conference of the Parties in 2008, agreement was reached to add tributyl tin compounds but not concerning chrysotile asbestos and endosulfane. The IFCS in 2000 also recognised the importance of providing all relevant parties with safety information consistent with the safety data sheets. 

Safety Data Sheets must be supplied to companies upon first business transaction for dangerous substances and preparations. The Safety Data Sheet summarises hazard data and the appropriate safety measure for use and disposal of the given chemical. Thereafter, suppliers and users share responsibility for updating a Safety Data Sheet. A Safety Data Sheet must usually be made available upon demand for professional users but not members of the general public. 

The role of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in the harmonized system... 

Chemicals (Hazardous Information and Packaging for Supply - CHIP) Regulations 2002, which implements Directive 67/548/EEC and its seventh amendment 92/32/ EEC, the Dangerous Preparations Directive (99/45/EC) and its amendments, and the Safety Data Sheet Directive (91/155/EEC)... 

MAK-value Maximum workplace concentration, product-specific value of chemical substances defining the harmful contamination of the air at the workplace due to these substances (dimension ppm = parts per million = mg/kg). Information on MAK-values are given in the safety data sheets of the respective substances. 

Besides the many factors to be aware of when selecting natural colour products as described in Section 13.3, the handling during production is also important. Good guidance on how to handle colours will normally be provided by the supplier in the safety data sheet specifying the directions of use as well as any relevant hazards. 

Amongst other things then, CHIP required that suppliers classified the substances they supplied according to the extent of hazard they represented to human health. It required they used the R-phrase rating system to do so and that suppliers state the appropriate R-phrase on the Safety Data Sheets they were obliged to provide when supplying chemicals or preparations for use at work. These measures were to be of considerable significance in relation to the future policy expectations... 

The safety data sheet should enable the professional user in particular to take the necessary measures as regards the protection of the environment and health and safety at the workplace. The safety data sheet must contain the information necessary for the protection of personnel and the environment The language of the safety data sheets can be prescribed by the competent authorities of the member states every member state requires at least one national language. Multiple language countries like Belgium require more than one language. 

If the substance or preparation covered by the safety data sheet is the subject of specific provisions in relation to protection of man or the environment at Community level (e.g., restrictions on marketing and use set out in Council Directive 76/769/EEC [4-5]), these provisions should, as far as is possible, be stated. 

An essential precondition for safe work is the provision of proper information to workers. The EU directive 98/24/EC requires the employer to provide detailed information on all risks occurring during work with chemical agents. Employees have a right to know all about the risk assessment carried out and the resulting actions and safety measures. This includes information on the identity, hazardous properties, and relevant exposure limits of the chemicals which are used or which may be present at the workplace. The employer must give full access to aU the safety data sheets provided by the supplier. As well as providing the information. 

Here, aU existing and relevant risks at the workplace must be listed. They can be taken from the R-phrases on the label or in the safety data sheet. As already pointed out, difficulties may arise with classified or unclassified preparations containing dangerous components which may be set free at the workplace. Additional information either from the suppher or from safety literature may be necessary. 

Under REACH, the safety data sheet (SDS) will become of increasing importance as the key tool for communication in the supply chain. The headings are not changed from those in the requirements of the safety data sheet Directive 91/155/EC [8-6] (for more details see Secion 4.2). However, it is important to realize that the sequence of Sections 2 and 3 has changed and a separate annex may be necessary the following is the required order in REACH Annex II ... 

The information provided in the Safety Data Sheet shall be consistent with the information in a required Chemical Safety Report. 

Downstream users as well as any others in the supply chain have the obligation to inform up the supply chain in cases of new information on hazardous properties, regardless of the uses concerned or any other information that might call into question the appropriateness of the risk management measures identified in the safety data sheet supplied to him, which shall be communicated only for identified uses. 

If the manufacturer or importer is not able to include this application as an identified use for reasons of protection of health or environment, the Agency as well as the downstream user has to be informed of the reasons for his decision. Also, the manufacturer or importer should include this not accepted usage in the safety data sheet and update his registration with that not supported usage. 

Extension of the validity of ecological criteria for paints and varnish eco-label Adaptation to Technical Progress of the new Dangerous Substances Directive Amendment to the Safety Data Sheets Directive... 

The safety data sheet (the word material has been dropped in recent terminology) or SDS is specifically aimed at use in the workplace. It should provide comprehensive information about the chemical product that allows employers and workers to obtain concise, relevant, and accurate information that can be put in perspective with regard to the hazards, uses, and risk management of the chemical product in the workplace. The SDS should contain 16 sections. While there were some differences in existing industry recommendations, and requirements of countries, there was widespread agreement on a 16 section SDS that includes the following headings in the order specified ... 

Information regarding the supply chain The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Directive Number 91/155/ECC has been repealed by REACH legislation. The requirements and responsibilities of SDS will remain and be extended. Further information on when a SDS should be supplied and the additional information now required is given in Chapter 5. 

Part of this information is usually available (particularly in regard to the manufacturing and own use of the substance). However, information on the conditions of use down the supply chain must be collected externally through an interaction with the customers or customers associations. This interaction starts when the manufacturer or importer communicates the relevant information documented in the CSR to the downstream users (DU) to ensure safe use of the substance. This information is transmitted by means of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and the Exposure Scenarios (ES) attached [also known as the extended Safety Data Sheet (eSDS)]. 

As an example of this implementation by a Member State, the UK has developed a scheme which is consistent with these Directives and is described in the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP 2). These Regulations (which are currently at the Consultative Document stage) implement the above Directives and their Amendments and Adaptations as well as the Safety Data Sheets Directive (93/112/EC). 

Hazard categories are identified by a pictorial symbol (e.g. skull and crossbones, St Andrew s cross, etc.), a symbol letter (e.g. T +, Xi, etc.) and an indication of danger (e.g. Very TOXIC, HARMFUL, etc.). These must appear on the label of any container or solvent so qualifying. RISK ( R ) Phrases are intended to warn users of the potential dangers of the use of a solvent. SAFETY ( S ) Phrases are intended to provide brief summary advice to users on precautions which should be taken in handling the solvent. R and S Phrases are identified by number. They must appear in full on the label and in the Safety Data Sheet. 

It can be seen that cyclohexane satisfies the criteria for HIGHLY Flammable, but not those for toxic or environmental hazards. This solvent does, however, possess the generic ability to cause CNS effects and irritation and this makes the point that the label alone is insufficient to give the user full knowledge of the potential hazards of a substance. More extensive information should be available in the Safety Data Sheet, which is required to be supplied with all substances classified as DANGEROUS under this system. 

Within the EU, the Safety Data Sheets Directive (93/112/EC) requires that data sheets be produced for all substances classified as Dangerous and information must be supplied under the following headings ... 

GHS does not state where to obtain special instmctions. Since the precautionary statements in Table IE will appear in the safety data sheet (SDS) associated with a CMR, and the SDS is primarily for employee protection, special instmctions should be obtained from the employer. GHS supports control banding (CB) strategies (see http //www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/). CB place CMRs into band four Seek expert advice. CB does not... 

Provide workers quicker and more efficient access to information on the safety data sheets. 

A hazard warning label is not intended to be the sole or most complete source of hazard information. For complete hazard information, always refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). 

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