Understanding MSDS is a 23-minute training video produced by Emergency Film Group designed to provide training to emergency response personnel and plant workers who may use materials safety data sheets.
Introduction With the huge number of hazardous materials in existence, it is impossible for anybody to become an expert on all of them. For this reason, workers and emergency response teams need a ready source of information that identifies the hazards and response procedures for any given material.
The Hazard Communications Standard issued by OSHA in 1986 requires the presence of material safety data sheets at any workplace where hazardous materials are used. This document contains information regarding the specific identity of the product, including information on health effects, first aid, chemical and physical properties, and emergency telephone numbers for additional information or help. However, until recently no specific guidelines for the organization of this information were available, and users often found the documents inconsistent and hard to understand.
In 1993, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) passed a consensus standard, Z400.1-1993, Standard for Hazardous Industrial Chemicals-Material Safety Data. This standard organizes the MSDS into sections and explains what information must be provided in each section.
About the filmUnderstanding MSDS is designed to provide training to anyone who, in the course of their duties, may need to use a material safety data sheet. Comprehensive and up to date, it explains how the document is organized into 16 sections, and tells what information must be included in each section. An accompanying Leader's Guide includes sample MSDS and provides suggestions for activities to reinforce the training offered in the video, as well as an extensive glossary of the sometimes cryptic terms used in MSDS. After going through this training program, students will be able to quickly find in an MSDS the information needed to respond effectively to any situation involving a hazardous product regardless of the manufacturer of that product. This will benefit the worker, the workplace, the community and the environment.
Description
