Question : What is a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?

Answer: A material safety data sheet is a technical document which provides detailed and comprehensive information on a controlled product related to:

 health effects of exposure to the product

 hazard evaluation related to the product’s handling, storage or use

 measure to protect workers at risk of exposure

emergency procedures.

The data sheet may be written, printed or otherwise expressed, and must meet the availability, design and content requirements of WHMIS legislation. The legislation provides for flexibility of design and wording but requires that a minimum number of categories of information be completed and that all hazardous ingredients meeting certain criteria be listed subject to exemptions granted under the Hazardous Materials