What Agencies or Regulations Require Us To Keep MSDS’s?

OSHA

The U.S. Government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for the Hazard Communications Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200. The purpose of this standard is “to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are evaluated, and that information concerning their hazards is transmitted to employers and employees. This transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of comprehensive hazard communications programs, which are to include container labeling and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets and employee training.”

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) specifies the required elements that must be on an MSDS among other important data. It is a very readable document, and we suggest that anyone involved with MSDS management print out a hard copy for future reference.

EPA

Other regulations address MSDS’s as well. For example, the U. S. Government’s Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Community Right to Know Law (SARA Title III)” is another set of regulations you’ll want to consult.

State and Local Agencies

Many state laws may require or govern the content of MSDS’s. Some of these are state Right to Know Laws. California, unlike many states, has its own OSHA, known as CalOSHA, and its own EPA, known as CalEPA. IN California, the Right to Know Law is known as Proposition 65, which mandates, among other things, the warning you see in front of many building about the presence of potentially hazardous or cancer-causing materials.

Your client and/or your security employer will brief you on any laws or regulations you need to know about to perform your duties.