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SECTION 2B: Chemical and Hazard Identification
Chemical manufacturers are required to perform an assessment of the physical
and health hazards of the chemicals they produce. This information must
be made available in two places: the chemical label and the material safety
data sheet (MSDS). Thus, the information found on the original container
label and the MSDS may provide a great deal of information about the identity
of the chemical constituents and their health and physical hazards.
Labels (top)
The manufacturer’s label should be kept intact. Do not intentionally
deface or obscure the label or the hazard warnings. When a chemical
is transferred from the original container into a secondary container
for storage, the new container should be labeled with the name of the
product, the chemical constituents and the primary hazard warnings.
Material Safety Data Sheets (top)
All chemical manufacturers or distributors are required to conduct a
hazard evaluation of their products and include the information on a
material safety data sheet (MSDS). The manufacturer or distributor is
required to provide an MSDS with the initial shipment of their products.
Any MSDSs received by the laboratory must be maintained in a central
location in the laboratory or the department. Check with your Chemical
Hygiene Officer to determine what to do with the MSDSs you receive.
If an MSDS is not on hand, check the MSDS
page of the EHS web site
for connections to on-line sources of MSDSs. If the MSDS cannot be
found, contact the manufacturer or distributor at the number listed
on the
container label and request an MSDS. If the manufacturer does not provide
one within a few days, contact EHS for assistance.
Appendix D of this guide provides guidance
for interpreting the information contained in the MSDS.
 Section
2 Section
2c
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