MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is a technical specification for chemical safety, which can also be translated as Chemical Safety Statement or Chemical Safety Data Sheet.It is a document used by chemical manufacturers and importers to state the physical and chemical properties of a chemical (e.g. PH value, flash point, flammability, reactivity, etc.) as well as the possible hazards to the user’s health (e.g. carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, etc.).
MSDS is a comprehensive legal document on the characteristics of chemicals provided to customers by chemical manufacturers or sales enterprises in accordance with legal requirements, which provides 16 items of physical and chemical parameters, hazards to health, safe use and storage, first aid measures, and relevant laws and regulations.It provides sixteen contents such as physical and chemical parameters, flammability, health hazards, safe use and storage, leakage disposal, first-aid measures and relevant laws and regulations, etc. MSDS can be compiled by manufacturers themselves according to relevant rules.However, in order to ensure the accuracy and standardisation of the report, it can be applied to a professional organisation for compilation.
MSDS Contents
The MSDS contains 16 basic items, all of which are required, so check that they are complete before providing the information:
1. Material and company identification; 2. Material composition and ingredient information; 3. Hazard symbols; 4. First aid measures; 5. Fire precautions; 6. Accidental release measures; 7. Handling and storage; 8. Exposure control/personal protection; 9. Physical and chemical properties; 10. Stability/reactivity; 11. Toxicological information; 12. Ecological information; 13. Disposal precautions; 14. Transport information; 15. Regulatory information; 16. Other
Documents required for MSDS application
Name of applicant or company, address, contact person, telephone number, fax number, email address, product name, product model, nature of product, end use, country of export, name and percentage of chemical ingredients contained in the product (CAS No.), physical properties of the product, etc.
MSDS audit cycle: 3-5 working days
Generally, the goods that need to check the MSDS are batteries, chemicals, etc. In addition to identifying dangerous goods and non-dangerous goods, MSDS can also identify and confirm the special loading of some special goods.
The following basic elements are generally required when reviewing an MSDS:
1) The validity period of MSDS acceptance is 3 years from the Issue Date;
2) Each of the 16 basic items should be filled in, except for [Other Information];
3) The composition of the second or third column of the MSDS needs to be 100% complete;
4) If there is a UN No. in the fourteenth column, CLASS is classified as dangerous goods;
5) The name of the production unit in the MSDS is the same as the name of the production unit in the Certificate of Goods Transport Conditions.If not, the relationship between the two must be explained.
MSDS are commonly used:
Export customs declaration and inspection
Safety Supervision Hazardous Chemical Registration
Responding to customer requests
Enterprise security management
Which companies need to be concerned about MSDS?
Substances listed in the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals must be provided with an MSDS (most already exist).
1. Explosives
2. Compressed and liquefied gases
3, Easily flammable liquids.
4. Flammable solids, self-combustible articles and articles flammable in contact with moisture
5. Oxidisers and organic peroxides
6. Toxic and infectious substances
7. Radioactive substances
8. Corrosives
9. Miscellaneous
Use of MSDS in transport
In air-sea transport, MSDSs are very important documents, especially for transport involving chemicals or dangerous goods.Under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and ICAO regulations, many chemicals and dangerous goods are classified as hazardous and require special packaging, labelling and transport.In these cases, air-sea carriers often require appropriate MSDS documentation to ensure the safe transport of goods and emergency handling.The starting point for legal and compliant operations is all to protect the safety of all parties, including the ship, cargo and terminal, and to ensure that the rights and interests of trade participants are not jeopardised.
