Are you ready for OSHA with your MSDS?

So you have opened your new business?  Do you have everything you need to cover your bases with OSHA, federal and local laws, and compliance standards?

“Yeah, it was a pain but all my posters have been put up as required.  Even the safety ones that aren’t required.”

I’m still pretty sure you missed one thing that most all companies overlook, unless they are a chemical plant.

“Ok wise guy, if you don’t think I have it, test me, and I’ll prove you wrong.”

Do you have all of your SDS and your hazardous communication policy in a book for review, if someone gets hurt on the job?

“SDS?  What is that? I’ve never heard of that term.”

With an answer like that, you aren’t quite as ready as you thought for OSHA requirements.  The SDS is a new name to an old term-MSDS.  MSDS, if you don’t remember, stood for Material Safety Data Sheets, but was recently changed to SDS or Safety Data Sheets.  The change was made, because there were too many variables being used to create the MSDS. So, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and made a friendlier format for the sheets. 

“Oh, those. I don’t need those as we only use store bought chemicals on premises, and nothing like what a hospital uses.”

Well during a recent review of the new OSHA guidelines, we discovered that statement is partially true.  What we found was, if your employees use a chemical product, a disinfecting spray for example, like they would at home and only spraying it occasionally, as needed, then you can probably get away without an SDS on it. But, if they spray it continually to clean and disinfect numerous surfaces throughout the day, then you would want the SDS on hand.  The old saying, “better be safe than sorry,” comes to mind when putting together a book for your use as there is no penalty for having one if you don’t need it.

“Ok, we use this one disinfectant cleaning agent on all of the equipment every time it’s used by anyone.  Guess we better get on that SDS book as soon as we can.  But, let’s say we get busy, and forget to get it done right away, what happens?

Oh, you really don’t want to delay getting it done. If OSHA pays a surprise visit to your office, and you don’t have the SDS on hand when they think you should, you could face some really hefty fines and penalties.  OSHA requires every company to have a Hazardous Communication Policy, to include a plan outlining what has to be done in case of emergency situations, which might include a spill of the hazardous chemical. The reason for the SDS is that it explains what a chemical does, how to store it, what to store it in, and the temperatures it should be kept. It also explains what to do, if you are exposed to a chemical either by ingesting, breathing, or having it on your skin, or in your eyes. The SDS provides the chemical’s make up, the testing parameters that has gone into making it, and whether it is toxic to the environment, inside or outside.  The sheets also give instructions as to the combustibility, or if water should be used to extinguish a fire involving that chemical. With a great many chemicals, water is the worst thing to use to put out the fire. You should also have an Emergency Action Policy that would inform an individual(s) on evacuation plans, including where to meet the rest of the team, and who to contact in case of an emergency. Many small business owners are not aware of these requirements.

“Wow, I had no idea. Sounds like an important tool, and something I should get straight to work on. I don’t want to get caught without it, and I do worry about my employee’s safety.”