A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides information about the hazards of a specific chemical or product. MSDSs vary in style and content, but all contain certain required information.

Material Safety Data Sheets must provide the following information:

• The material's identity, including its chemical and common names
          Example:
• Brand name: Clorox (TM)
• Chemical name: Sodium hypochlorite
• Common name: Bleach

• Hazardous ingredients, or any chemical which poses a health or physical hazard (even in parts as small as 1%)
          Example:
• Ingredients exposure: Sodium hypochlorite
• Formula: NaOCl
• Percentage by weight: 5.25%

• Physical and chemical hazards and characteristics, such as stability, reactivity, flammability, explosiveness, corrosiveness, compatibility with other materials, and hazardous combustion or decomposition
          Example:
• Stability: Stable
• Incompatibilities: strong acids, organic materials, finely powdered metals
• Hazardous combustion or decomposition products: Chlorine
• Hazardous polymerization: Will not occur

• Health hazards, or any potential physical injuries that handling the material without proper protective equipment may cause, including:
• Acute effects: Injuries which occur immediately, such as burns or unconsciousness
• Chronic effects: Injuries which occur from exposure over a period of time, such as allergic sensitization, skin problems, or respiratory disease

• Recognition of a material as a carcinogen or an agent capable of producing cancer, as listed by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC), or National Toxicology Program (NTP). A cancer review may include both animal and human summaries.
  

• Exposure limits, primary routes of entry into the body, specific target organs likely to sustain damage, and medical problems that can be aggravated by exposure
          Example:
• Airborne exposure limit: 8-hour time-weighted average
• Route: Ocular
• Symptoms of overexposure: Headaches and pressure sensation, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and difficulty thinking

• Precautions for handling and storing and safety equipment such as protective gloves, eye protection, and monitoring equipment or detectors

• Emergency and first aid procedures dealing with topics such as inhalation, ingestion, and eye or skin contact.
          Example:
• Skin contact: Wear respiratory protective mask and remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with copious amounts of soap and water.
• Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. First symptoms are likely to be gastrointestinal. Immediately administer Nerve Agent Antidote Kit.
• Inhalation: Hold breath until respiratory protective mask is donned. If severe signs of agent exposure appear, immediately administer all three Nerve Agent Antidote Kits.

• Specific fire-fighting information such as flammability limits, lower and upper explosive limits, and fire fighting procedures

• Procedures for cleanup of spills and leaks in both field and laboratory procedures

• Precautions for safe handling and use, including emergency showers and eyewash stations

• Identity of the organization responsible for creating the MSDS, date of issue, and emergency phone number

Contact Environment, Health & Safety, (858) 534-3660, if you have questions about the chemicals you intend to work with.

Need an expert? Contact a Research Assistance Program specialist.