MSDS Sheets - Part 1

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Last Updated: Thursday, 19 June 2014 19:43

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) can be an important and sometimes intimidating document that delineates hazards associated with a particular product and defines the occupational risks, appropriate treatment, storage and handling methods (for emergency response personnel, i.e., firefighters) for a product. MSDS are regulated by OSHA and are a required component of a manufacturer’s Hazards Communication Plan (29 CFR 1900.1200 Hazard Communication; 1900.1200 (g) is the section of OSHA law that refers to MSDS content). The original intent for MSDS was not to communicate to teachers and consumers, yet we find ourselves getting more involved with them each day.

As this is a large topic we will create a two part article on MSDS:

  • Part I – The purpose of the MSDS and defining hazardous materials;
  • Part II – We focus specifically on ceramic materials and hazards as they are expressed on our MSDS sheets.

MSDS Purpose
Verbatim from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):

Purpose 1910.1200(a)(1)
“The purpose of this section is to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are evaluated, and that information concerning their hazards is transmitted to employers and employees. This transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of comprehensive hazard communication programs, which are to include container labeling and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets and employee training.”

MSDS are only required for products that contain hazardous materials. Manufacturers are under no obligation to produce MSDS for non-hazardous materials.

Hazardous materials that constitute greater than 1% of the chemical formula or carcinogenic materials found in concentrations greater than 0.1% MUST be listed on the product’s MSDS. If a material IS NOT LISTED it is not in the product.

We receive a significant number of inquiries concerning LEAD. Mayco became a lead-free product manufacturer in spring of 2009. There is no legal requirement to state that products are lead-free. There is a legal requirement to show the hazardous content of a product on an MSDS sheet. LEAD is a hazardous material – it must be listed on the label and MSDS by law. If you trust your art materials supplier is providing you with properly prepared MSDS documents and product labels there is no need to question the contents of a product.

Hazardous Material Classification
Currently in the US, chemical hazards are classified according to following 7 definitions:

  1. Carcinogen: A chemical that has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) or National Toxicology Program (NTP) and found to be a carcinogen or potential carcinogen;
  2. Corrosive: A chemical that causes visible destruction of, or irreversible alterations in, living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact;
  3. Highly toxic: A chemical that is lethal at minor dosages via oral ingestion, skin contact or inhalation;
  4. Irritant: A chemical, which is not corrosive, but which causes a reversible inflammatory effect on living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact;
  5. Sensitizer: A chemical that causes a substantial proportion of exposed people or animals to develop an allergic reaction in normal tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical;
  6. Toxic: A chemical that is lethal in larger dosages than those listed for highly toxic chemicals;
  7. Target organ effects: A chemical that causes harmful effects to specific body organs.

Don’t be alarmed by the intense language required by law on MSDS or product labels. We’ll explain, in practical terms, the hazards associated with ceramic art materials in the next newsletter. For now please recall that art materials have been regulated by the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) since 1988 and, in many respects, LHAMA is more stringent than the CPSIA of 2008.

MSDS FAQ
For additional information: THE most comprehensive resource for information about MSDS on the Internet can be found here: Interactive Learning Paradigms, Incorporated. Bookmark it and use it frequently – it is actively updated and amended.

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