As an employer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires you to maintain material safety data sheets (MSDS). The only companies that are exempt from filing these material safety data sheets are city, county and state agencies.

Employees need to know how to enter the information on the material safety data sheets and, in case of emergency, provide emergency workers with a copy of the material safety data sheets. An employer should consider the following when determining how to complete material safety data sheets:

1. Give your employees all the information about the product so that they can list the product's chemical properties and the product maker's contact information on the material safety data sheets.

2. Provide employees with a copy of the material safety data sheets so that they are aware of safety precautions when handling the product.

3. Train your employees how to properly fill out the material safety data sheets.

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

Save time by having a material safety data sheets provider

Find a material safety data sheets provider who can help you stay up to date on regulations and find MSDS supplies. A material safety data sheets provider can give you sheets and labels for containers.

I recommend: MSDS Writer provides a variety of solutions for material safety data sheets compliance from authoring material safety data sheets sheets to labeling containers to hazardous waste consulting. MSDSprovider provides chemical inventory management solutions and helps companies to maintain OSHA compliance.

Educate employees properly on how to fill out material safety data sheets

Use training programs for employees to educate them on how to complete the material safety data sheets. Find a company that offers training kits and work place reminders.

I recommend: Compare and select different employee training programs for material safety data sheets, available at National Safety Compliance. They offer videos, training guides, company posters and completion certificates. 3E Company has a wide selection of material safety data sheets training kits.

Download software that provides you with material safety data sheets management

Manage all of your material safety data needs by downloading software that provides complete chemical management and material safety data administration. When you download the software, anyone at your company can easily have the information on a product at their fingertips.

I recommend: Dolphin provides customized software for chemical management and has a newsletter you can sign up for to get the latest on material safety data sheets information. ImageWave offers software that allows you to input your material safety data information and output it to a standard industry template. They offer a demo version you can try first to see if the software fits your company's needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your employees always refer to the material safety data sheet list when working with any chemical. Always instruct your employees to completely fill out the MSDS information and to contact the manufacturer if they are unsure about the product's information.