Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are references used to inform chemical users of the hazards associated with chemicals and to advise users of the appropriate precautions. All departments are required to have MSDS’s for the chemicals that are used within their department.
Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS are written or printed documents containing hazardous information of chemicals. MSDS must contain the following information:
- Chemical name and common name(s) of all ingredients
- Manufacturer name, address and phone number
- Physical and Health hazards
- Emergency procedures and first aid treatment
- Disposal and spill information
- Control measures including engineering and work practice controls and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Safe handling and use precautions
- Date prepared and/or updated
The OSHA Hazardous Communication Standard requires Villanova University to provide access to MSDS for any hazardous chemical located on campus via paper copy or electronic access via the internet. It is each department’s responsibility to provide access to paper copies via an MSDS binder or to ensure that every person is trained on the use of a computer and has access to a computer and the internet to obtain an MSDS. See your Supervisor or Safety Representative for the location of the departmental MSDS binder.
