Identifying Chemical Exposure Risks and Utilizing Safety Data Sheets in Workplaces across Puerto Rico

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) was revised in 2012 to require chemical manufacturers, distributors or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), to communicate the dangers of hazardous chemical products.
 
Beginning in June of 2015, the HCS required that Safety Data Sheets be presented in a consistent user-friendly, 16-section format. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides the following descriptions to provide guidance to help workers who handle hazardous chemicals become familiar with the format and understand its various sections. They include:
 

• Section 1: Identification - Identification includes product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use.
• Section 2: Hazard(s) Identification - Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements.
• Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients - Composition/information on ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients; trade secret claims.
• Section 4: First-Aid Measures - First-aid measures includes important symptoms/effects, acute, delayed; required treatment.
• Section 5: Fire-Fighting Measures - Fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire.
• Section 6: Accidental Release Measures - Accidental release measures lists emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup.
• Section 7: Handling and Storage - Handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.
• Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection - Exposure controls/personal protection lists OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs); ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the SDS where available as well as appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties - Physical and chemical properties lists the chemical’s characteristics.
• Section 10: Stability and Reactivity - Stability and reactivity lists chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions.
• Section 11: Toxicology Information - Toxicological information includes routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity.
• Section 12: Ecological Information
• Section 13: Disposal Considerations
• Section 14: Transport Information
• Section 15: Regulatory Information
• Section 16: Other Information - Other information includes the date of preparation or last revision.

“Safety Data Sheets must be kept up to date and be readily accessible to employees for all hazardous chemicals in their workplace,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “At Zimmetry, our industrial hygiene professionals help companies and institutions stay in compliance by creating an accurate and available collection of SDSs. We also provide industrial hygiene testing and monitoring services to protect workers from known and unknown chemical and microbiological hazards. These services are available in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean.”
 
Zimmetry recently sponsored an educational video about Safety Data Sheets and hazardous chemicals that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/hRmOgJVNCA0
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality (IAQ), asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail