Material safety is not only an important aspect in overall workplace safety, but it’s also a component required by government branches such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). When chemicals are used at a company, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is required to be posted or kept in an accessible location.

It’s important to always know what chemicals you have on hand and how to handle them. Maintaining records of chemicals used in your company, along with their Material Safety Data Sheets, will allow for a safe environment should hazardous situations, accidents, or reactions occur.

Keeping up to code with material safety will ensure that your company:

1. Can help employees when hazardous situations occur
2. Will comply with OSHA regulations on safety for chemicals
   
3. Provides a safe working environment

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Mandatory material safety training

To ensure that employees are always up to date on material safety, provide lists of company-sponsored classes that employees can attend. Whether these classes conducted by your company or offered by a training company, employees should be required to attend.

I recommend: Companies such as Safety Head or OSHA Safety Training offer in-house training and materials needed to comply with OSHA requirements. If time is of the essence or you have an immediate and recurring need to train employees, kits are available, such as the one from All About OSHA, that can allow employees to train at their own pace or can be taught as a course by one of your in-house personnel.

Post material safety posters throughout the workplace

Posting warnings for chemicals isn't enough when it comes to chemical safety in the workplace. Make sure that Material Data Safety Sheets are readily available near chemical workplaces.

I recommend: OSHA requires that certain posters be posted throughout your workplace; make sure that any required Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is posted in visible areas. Labor Law has a variety of required posters available. If you’re looking for a free Material Safety Data sheet, visit ILPI – they update their website often. Material safety and hazardous material information posters don’t always have to be a serious matter. While material safety data sheets are meant to promote workplace safety and can be extremely helpful in emergency situations, posting a funny office safety checklist, or a funny MSDS like this one for coffee, can help to lighten up the otherwise serious nature of material safety.

Designate at least one employee as the material safety emergency personnel

While every employee should be trained in material safety, keeping up to date with every chemical, OSHA requirements, and new laws and regulations is a full-time job. So as not to distract employees from their daily work, designate at least one person, or even a department, to stay on top of material safety.

I recommend: Employees dedicated to material safety can check out sites like MSDS that have Material Safety Data Sheets that are updated regularly. MSDS Online is a service that employees can purchase to look up information, including new information regarding safety for chemicals, an updated chemical Material Safety Data Sheet directory, and much more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While there are a number of sites out there pertaining to material safety, OSHA is always a credible source. When in doubt, visit the OSHA website for the latest news and regulation updates.