Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s) are documents that provide information about a chemical product.  Department Managers are responsible for obtaining MSDS’s for all hazardous materials in their work areas. MSDS’s for all hazardous materials must be located in the department/unit.  Every employee must review the MSDS’s prior to working with a hazardous product.  MSDS’s will provide information about:

• Chemical and common name(s) of hazardous ingredients
• Physical and chemical characteristics
• Physical hazards (i.e., potential for fire, explosion)
• Known acute and chronic health effects
• Primary routes of entry into the body
• Information on exposure limits
• Information if the product is considered a carcinogen
• Precautions for safe handling, including personal protective equipment
• Emergency and first aid procedures, including emergency phone numbers. 

Hazardous spills and exposures must be reported to Chemical Safety at ###-#### or *XXX (if located on the XXXXX Campus), or to your satellite facility administrator. 

Not all accidents involving hazardous materials can be prevented, but they can be minimized by planning ahead.  Emergency procedures must be developed and communicated to all personnel prior to an unfortunate event occurring.  Spill kits to handle such contaminants as mercury, acids and bases, biological and other hazardous chemicals, are maintained in the Environmental Services Department.

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