Material Safety Data Sheets
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a technical bulletin detailing health and safety information about hazardous substances. An MSDS tells employees about the hazards of substances used in their work locations and the safety precautions that should be taken when handling them. Copies of data sheets for all hazardous substances to which Franklin and Marshall employees may be exposed are available at the locations designated in this section.
3.1 Obtaining MSDS's
The EHS office shall be responsible for obtaining all data sheets and distributing copies to designated locations. The EHS office reviews incoming MSDS's to assure that they are complete. If an MSDS is not received or is incomplete, They will send a written request for a complete MSDS to the supplier and document attempts to obtain it.
Employees can find a list of all hazardous substances used or stored at their work locations by checking with the area supervisor or the EHS office. When a new substance is introduced to a work location, the purchaser of the substance is responsible for notifying the EHS office. The EHS office will obtain an MSDS for review by the affected employees.
3.2 Preparing MSDS's
The College is not a "chemical manufacturer," as defined by the Standard, and does not offer substances produced in the research laboratories for resale. Therefore, the College has no responsibility to prepare an MSDS.
3.3 Access to MSDS's by Employees
Complete sets of all MSDS's are available for examination by employees in several locations:
- Apple Health Services
- Chemistry Library
- Public Safety Office
- Environmental Health & Safety Office
To obtain individual copies of MSDS's, employees should submit a request to the Director of Environmental, Health & Safety. Copies will be provided within 15 days of the request. Upon written request, MSDS's will be provided to an employee's designated representative, provided that the designated representative has written authorization from the employee to act on the employee's behalf.
A complete set of the MSDS's is also kept at the Department of Public Safety for use in emergency situations.
