2.4 Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) will provide each employee with the specific information on chemicals that Carter & Carter employees may use or come in contact with during the course of their employment. The Safety and Health Manager will maintain the Carter & Carter Hazard Communication Program Manual, which is a three-ring binder containing an SDS on every substance on the list of hazardous chemicals included in Section 2.9 of this Safety & Loss Control Program Manual.

Each respective SDS will be a fully completed OSHA Form 174 or its equivalent. A blank OSHA Form 174 is provided and can be used if deemed necessary. The Safety and Health Manager will ensure that the list of SDSs in the job trailer is maintained and current.

The Safety and Health Manager is responsible for acquiring and updating all SDSs. He or she will contact the chemical manufacturer vendor if additional research is necessary, or if an SDS has not been provided within the initial shipment of the respective materials. All new procurements for the company must be cleared by the Safety and Health Manager. A master list of SDSs is available at any time from the Safety and Health Manager.

OSHA specifies the information to be included on an SDS, but does not prescribe the specific format for an MSS.

OSHA requires that each SDS must include the following information at a minimum:

1. Chemical identity.
2. Hazardous ingredients.
3. Physical and chemical characteristics.
4. Fire and explosion hazard data.
5. Reactivity data.
6. Health hazards.
7. Precautions for safe handling and use.
8. Control measures.