Pollution Prevention Project Report #2
Title:
Updating Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
Intern:
Jeffrey Luby
Box 72
Mirror Lake N.H.
03853
work (603) 755-4200 x2016
home (603) 569-2669
Facility: Textron Automotive Interiors
Rt. 11
Farmington NH
03835
Facility Contact: Dave Labbe
work (603) 755 - 4200 x2524
Facility Advisor: Richard Sherman work (603) 755 - 4200 x2530
Executive Summary:
CFR 29, 1910.1200 requires a comprehensive hazard communication program in the
work place to protect individuals who may come in contact with potentially hazardous
materials. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are an integral component to the
program. All chemicals used in industry must have a MSDS which is to be readily
available in the work place. MSDSs provide critical information which can be quickly
accessed. Textron Automotive Interiors (TAI), Farmington N.H. facility requires the
current chemical inventory be matched up with the MSDSs already on file and be refiled
by area of use. In cases of missing or eligible MSDSs, the supplier would have to be
contacted such that a request can be made for a current copy.
Background:
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act also known as SARA Title
III actualized regulation CFR 29 1910.1200, Hazardous Communication to protect
individuals who come in contact with potentially hazardous materials is the workplace.
The regulation is intended to address, comprehensively, the issues of evaluating and
communicating the potential hazards of materials and appropriate protective measures.
The regulation requires Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) be developed or obtained
by chemical manufacturers and importers for each chemical / material produced or
imported. A MSDS in to be obtained by an employer to be available in the workplace for
each potentially hazardous chemical / material to be used. In addition MSDSs must be
obtained for any apparatus which may contain a potentially hazardous material on for
inert materials whose shape or size will be altered during a production process.
The key components of a MSDS are as follows:
- Chemical Ingredients
- Physical Characteristics
- Fire and Explosion Data
- Reactivity Data
- Environmental Disposal Data
- Health Hazard Data
- First Aid
- Handling Precautions
- Additional Information
TAI requires that the MSDSs currently on file be matched up with the current chemical
inventory to ensure that TAI has all the MSDSs required under the regulation. The
MSDSs must then be filed again by area of use and all MSDSs must be checked for
completeness and legibility. Missing MSDSs must be replaced.
Objectives:
- Improve safety in the work place
- 1910.1200 compliance
- Pollution prevention through heightened awareness
- Develop a system to keep MSDSs up to date
- Look into MSDS software
Approach:
- Inventory all chemicals / materials on site
- Cross reference inventory with the plants MSDS master index
- Determine where the materials / chemical are being purchased from
- Contact vendors to replace illegible, incomplete and missing MSDSs
Work Accomplished:
To date the inventory has been executed and cross referenced with the MSDS master
index. Vendors have been contacted to obtain missing MSDSs. The remainder of the task
is mostly clerical. A research group at the corporate level is looking into purchasing
MSDS tracking software.
Pollution Prevention Benefits:
MSDSs promote a heightened sense of awareness in the work place. An employee is fully
aware of the dangers a chemical / material poses to him or herself and the environment.
Heightend awareness results in an employee taking extra precautions when handling a
given material. Extra precaution is in itself pollution prevention when dealing with
potentially hazardous materials because extra care when handling or working with such
materials can significantly reduce the risk of an accidental spill or release.