If you already know about "MSDS" you can click here to read the information for our bulk MSM shipments.  If you are not familiar with MSDS, just read on, immediately below.

The objective of the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) is to concisely inform you about the hazards of the materials you work with so that you can protect yourself and respond to emergency situations. The law states that you must have access to MSDSs and be taught to read and understand them.

The information in the MSDS is the summarization of facts from many sources. Training, knowledge, and understanding of the technical data on an MSDS will provide you with the skill wisdom and good judgment to safely deal with your occupational exposure to hazards.

The purpose of an MSDS is to tell you:

The material's physical properties or fast-acting health effects that make it dangerous to handle

The level of protective gear you need

The first aid treatment to be provided when you are exposed to a hazard

The preplanning needed for safely handling spills, fires, and day-to-day operations

How to respond to accidents

The following are the OSHA Regulations found in 29 CFR 1910.1200 (g) regarding the content and uses of Material Safety Data Sheets:

The identity used on the label, and, except as provided for in paragraph (i) of this section on trade secrets: (g)(2)(i)

If the hazardous chemical is a single substance, its chemical and common name(s); (g)(2)(i)(A)

If the hazardous chemical is a mixture which has been tested as a whole to determine its hazards, the chemical and common name(s) of the ingredients which contribute to these known hazards, and the common name(s) of the mixture itself; or (g)(2)(i)(B)

If the hazardous chemical is a mixture which has not been tested as a whole: (g)(2)(i)(C)

The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to be health hazards, and which comprise 1% or greater of the composition, except that chemicals identified as carcinogens under paragraph (d) of this section shall be listed if the concentrations are 0.1% or greater; (g)(2)(i)(C)(1)

The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to be health hazards, and which comprise less than 1% (0.1% for carcinogens) of the mixture, if there is evidence that the ingredient(s) could be released from the mixture in concentrations which would exceed an established OSHA permissible exposure limit or ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, or could present a health risk to employees; and (g)(2)(i)(C)(2)

The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to present a physical hazard when present in the mixture; (g)(2)(i)(C)(3)

· Physical and chemical characteristics of the hazardous chemical (such as vapor pressure, flash point); (g)(2)(ii)

· The physical hazards of the hazardous chemical, including the potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity; (g)(2)(iii)

· The health hazards of the hazardous chemical, including signs and symptoms of exposure, and any medical conditions which are generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure to the chemical; (g)(2)(iv)

· The primary route(s) of entry; (g)(2)(v)

· The OSHA permissible exposure limit, ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, where available; (g)(2)(vi)

· Whether the hazardous chemical is listed in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on Carcinogens (latest edition) or has been found to be a potential carcinogen in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs (latest editions), or by OSHA; (g)(2)(vii)

· Any generally applicable precautions for safe handling and use which are known to the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, including appropriate hygienic practices, protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment, and procedures for clean-up of spills and leaks; (g)(2)(viii)

· Any generally applicable control measures which are known to the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, such as appropriate engineering controls, work practices, or personal protective equipment; (g)(2)(ix)

· Emergency and first aid procedures; (g)(2)(x)

· The date of preparation of the material safety data sheet or the last change to it; (g)(2)(xi)

AND

· The name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer or other responsible party preparing or distributing the material safety data sheet, who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary? (g)(2)(xii)

If no relevant information is found for any given category on the material safety data sheet, does the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet mark it to indicate that no applicable information was found? (g)(3)

NOTE: Where complex mixtures have similar hazards and contents (i.e. the chemical ingredients are essentially the same, but the specific composition varies from mixture to mixture), the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer may prepare one material safety data sheet to apply to all of these similar mixtures. (g)(4)

Does the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet make sure that the information recorded accurately reflects the scientific evidence used in making the hazard determination? (g)(5)

If the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet becomes newly aware of any significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical, or ways to protect against the hazards, is this new information added to the material safety data sheet within three months? (g)(5)

If the chemical is not currently being produced or imported does the chemical manufacturer or importer add the information to the material safety data sheet before the chemical is introduced into the workplace again? (g)(5)

Do chemical manufacturers or importers ensure that distributors and employers are provided an appropriate material safety data sheet with their initial shipment, and with the first shipment after a material safety data sheet is updated? (g)(6)(i)

Does the chemical manufacturer or importer either provide material safety data sheets with the shipped containers or send them to the employer prior to or at the time of shipment? (g)(6)(ii)

If the material safety data sheet is not provided with a shipment that has been labeled as a hazardous chemical, does the employer obtain one from the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor as soon as possible? (g)(6)(iii)

Does the chemical manufacturer or importer also provide distributors or employers with a material safety data sheet upon request? (g)(6)(iv)

Do distributors make certain that material safety data sheets, and updated information, are provided to other distributors and employers with their initial shipment and with the first shipment after a MSDS has been updated? (g)(7)(i)

Does the distributor either provide material safety data sheets with the shipped containers, or send them to the other distributor or employer prior to or at the time of the shipment? (g)(7)(ii)

Do retail distributors selling hazardous chemicals to employers having a commercial account provide a material safety data sheet to such employers upon request? (g)(7)(iii)

Do they also post a sign or otherwise inform them that a material safety data sheet is available? (g)(7)(iii)

NOTE: Wholesale distributors selling hazardous chemicals to employers over-the-counter may also provide material safety data sheets for all hazardous chemicals they sell, provide material safety data sheets upon the request of the employer at the time of the over-the-counter purchase, and shall post a sign or otherwise inform such employers that a material safety data sheet is available. (g)(7)(iv)

If an employer without a commercial account purchases a hazardous chemical from a retail distributor not required to have MSDS on file (i.e., the retail distributor does not have commercial accounts and does not use the materials), does the retail distributor provide the employer, upon request, with the name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor from which a material safety data sheet can be obtained? (g)(7)(v)

Do wholesale distributors also provide material safety data sheets to employers or other distributors upon request? (g)(7)(vi)

NOTE: Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors need not provide material safety data sheets to retail distributors that have informed them that the retail distributor does not sell the product to commercial accounts or open the sealed container to use it in their own workplaces. (g)(7)

Does the employer maintain copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical? (g)(8)

Does the employer make certain that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s)? (g)(8)

NOTE: Electronic access, microfiche, and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the material safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options. (g)(8)

NOTE: Where employees must travel between workplaces during a workshift, i.e., their work is carried out at more that one geographical location, the material safety data sheets may be kept at the primary workplace facility.

The shipment which left our factory on April 3, 1999, carries with it the certificate that the product (MSM) being shipped in B/L No. JNP/0399/1672, to B&B International, "are non flammable, non toxic, non corrosive, non explosive and non-oxidising and can be safely carried on any Carrier.  They are not appearing in the current edition of Dangerous Goods Regulation Manual."

All shipments of our Bulk MSM will be able to carry the same certificate.