Material Safety Data Sheets

In the event of an EMERGENCY where an individual has been exposed to a chemical immediately contact Safety at X4150 for help with MSDS.

The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's) are among the most important documents needed when working with hazardous chemicals.  These sheets provide valuable information on the chemical and physical properties of the chemicals with which you may be working.   They also provide guidance on the proper protective equipment and emergency procedures for each chemical.  The following are potential sources of MSDS's.

Private laboratory Files

Each Laboratory should have a designated file or binder where all of the MSDSs used in that lab are stored. This is the quickest and most easily accessible place to find an MSDS when you need it.

If your lab does not have an MSDS area please encourage everyone to cooperate in the establishment and maintenance of such a collection.

Internet Access to MSDS

There are many sites on the Internet which provide MSDS's, including:

Manufacturers and vendors of the hazardous chemical

MSDS clearing house web-sites; both general and governmental.

Remote MSDS Stations

There are three remote MSDS stations on campus. These areas can be identified by the large yellow panel and a chemical hazard wall placard. Within the yellow panel there is a binder containing the MSDSs for many of the most frequently used chemicals on campus. The stations are located in the following areas:

• Forchheimer, Ground Floor near ATM machine and Security Desk
• Forchheimer, Fourth Floor on the North side near 405 Forchheimer.
• Kennedy, Ninth Floor.

   See MSDS Stations

These stations are updated annually. If there is an MSDS that is missing or that you feel should be added to these binders, please inform EH&S.

Environmental Health and Safety

EH&S has many systems established to provide timely access to the MSDS of any chemical used on campus. These include:

• Vendor and clearinghouse CD ROMs

• Internet links to useful MSDS web-sites

• EH&S maintains an extensive file system containing hundreds of common MSDS