1. Material Safety Data Sheets
MSDS – what you need to know
about them

2. Preparation:
Before
you go any further, it would be
helpful to download:
◦ Data sheet (click here) – to view the data
sheet you will need to be in slide show, press
F5
◦ This product, used as an example, is a
commercial cleaning product containing some
hazardous chemicals

3. What do MSDSs contain?
Identification
Teepol
of the product
Aluminium Cleaner
◦ - sales unit and stock code
◦ - address and contact details for the supplier

4. What do MSDSs contain?
Composition/
information on ingredients.
(Exact
formulations & details of non-hazardous components not required
– protects from rival manufacturers)
 CAS
& EINECS are identifications codes
 Risk
phrases (from CHIP data- see later)
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Alcohol Ethoxylate <1%
Phosphoric acid 15 – 30%
Benzotriazole <1%
Formaldehyde <1%

5. What do MSDSs contain?
Hazards
identified (i.e. those known about
when the product is used in the way the
manufacturer intends)
Irritating
to eye and skin
Large amounts could be hazardous to aquatic
environment

6. What do MSDSs contain?
First
aid measures
◦ Eyes - irrigate with water 10-15 minutes
◦ Skin – remove gloves and wash
◦ Ingestions – plenty of water to drink
 (This is incorrect - should be small sips!!)
◦ Inhalation- remove to fresh air
Always
check out first aid information with
your Departmental First Aider or Safety
Services

7. What do MSDSs contain?
Fire
fighting measures
The
material is non-flammable
If involved in a fire anyway, it may produce
hydrogen chloride (an acid gas)
Breathing
apparatus is relevant
to the Fire Service – not us!

8. What do MSDSs contain?
Measures
for spillage or accidental release
Spillage
◦ contain with sand or earth
◦ Beware of slipping hazard
◦ Do not allow to go down the drains (report
any significant leakage down the drains to the water authorities – take
advice)
You
will need to ensure that your
department stocks appropriate materials to
deal with these incidents.

9. What do MSDSs contain?
Handling
and storage
 Store away from food
 Tightly closed containers
 Away from children
 At temperatures between
 Shelf life 1 year
In
5oC & 30oC
this case, largely “common sense”
information but for some products it could
be more critical

10. What do MSDSs contain?
Exposure
controls &/or personal protective
equipment (PPE)
◦ These are standard safety signs denoting the need to
wear gloves, face shield and protective clothing.
◦ NB It does not tell you what sort of gloves are
appropriate. You would need to find this out by
consulting a gloves manufacturer regarding the
hazardous materials in the product – see the
“Guidance” section of Safety Services website

11. What do MSDSs contain?
Physical
& Chemical Properties
◦ Appearance – what it looks like
◦ pH – acidity/alkalinity of the product – a pH
of <1 denotes significant acidity
◦ Flash point – it is not flammable
◦ Density (>1 means it is more dense than
water)

12.
In terms of hazard, both high pHs (strong alkali) and low
pHs (strong acid) are nasty. For substances with pHs
around 7 acidity & alkalinity are not generally a problem.

13. What do MSDSs contain?
Stability
& reactivity
No stability concerns – it won’t “go off”
Avoid contact with strong oxidisers,
chlorine & chlorine products – nasty gases
possible
Contact with some alloys may produce
hydrogen – explosion potential because of
low pH! (but not in normal use)

14. What do MSDSs contain?
Toxicological
do to you?)
information (what nasty things will it
 Irritating to organic tissue (skin & eyes)
 Inhalation of aerosol may cause irritation
 Ingestion – irritation to mouth & digestive
a strong acid)
tract (it’s
 Eye
contact – may cause severe irritation (acid
 Skin
contact – irritation!
again!)
 Connected
with first aid information here, but in
some circumstances, may give details of longer
term medical problems, where appropriate

15. What do MSDSs contain?
Ecological
information
How environmentally friendly is it?
◦ Biodegrades – does not remain in soil etc
◦ Don’t release into surface waters
eg detergents can cause unsightly rivers and may
affect waterproofing of water birds

16. What do MSDSs contain?
Disposal
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
considerations
Use suitable PPE (see previous information)
Rinse out containers
Don’t allow to enter drains
Dispose of according to local regulations
Do not mix with other waste
This
is not as formidable as it
sounds – a bit of advice from Safety Services
or Estates will help

17. What do MSDSs contain?
Transport
information
◦ None
◦ Where substances need special consideration
for transport, it will be detailed here – usually
only applicable to larger quantities

18. What do MSDSs contain?
Regulatory
information
◦ Irritant to eyes and skin
◦ Keep away from children
◦ First aid information
◦ These are “risk phrases” associated with the
CHIP regulations – simple advice phrases
◦ There may also be symbols – as here ,
indicating “irritant”.

19. Risk phrases - examples
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R1: Explosive when dry
R2: Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire
or other sources of ignition
R3: Extreme risk of explosion by shock,
friction, fire or other sources of ignition
R4: Forms very sensitive explosive metallic
compounds
R5: Heating may cause an explosion
R6: Explosive with or without contact with air
R7: May cause fire
R8: Contact with combustible material may
cause fire
R9: Explosive when mixed with combustible
material
R10: Flammable
R11: Highly flammable
R12: Extremely flammable
R14: Reacts violently with water
R15: Contact with water liberates extremely
flammable gases
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R20: Harmful by inhalation
R21: Harmful in contact with skin
R22: Harmful if swallowed
R23: Toxic by inhalation
R24: Toxic in contact with skin
R25: Toxic if swallowed
R26: Very toxic by inhalation
R27: Very toxic in contact with skin
R28: Very toxic if swallowed
R29: Contact with water liberates toxic gas.
R30: Can become highly flammable in use
R31: Contact with acids liberates toxic gas
R32: Contact with acids liberates very toxic
gas
Up to: R66: Repeated exposure may cause skin
dryness or cracking
R67: Vapours may cause drowsiness and
dizziness
R68: Possible risk of irreversible effects

20. What do MSDSs contain?
Other
In
information (variable)
this case it tells you its immediate
application and how to use it

21. REMEMBER
MSDS’s
are NOT Risk Assessments!
They make no distinction between a gram
and a tonne of a substance.
When using substances you must carry out
a risk assessment but use the information in
MDSD’s to help you.
Controls should be proportional to risk!
risk
Not all MSDS’s contain comprehensive.
information, although they should have!
If in doubt, always consult an expert.