IAR Recyclers Newspress July / August 2015

14 / 24

Page 14 Recyclers News Press
From MSDS to SDS
GLOBAL HARMONIZATION (GHS) BRINGS CHANGES
TO SAFETY DATA SHEETS IN HAZCOM 2012
Continued from page 10
Automotive recycler. The most ap-
propriate SDS for used oil and
used antifreeze will be developed
and distributed by Safety Kleen as
was the MSDS in the past. These
two sheets, however, are not yet
available. In fact, the transition to
SDS is slower than expected since
chemical manufacturers are actual-
ly supposed to have them devel-
oped by June 2015—yes, last
June! Employers have until next
year—June 2016—to become
compliant (assuming the SDS are
available). For now a quick review
and update of the chemicals in the
workplace (which should be done
annually and ongoing) will give the
facility an idea of how many SDSs
will be needed to downloaded and
printed.
Update the Inventory list and locate
the SDS for all products. Starting with the fluids re-
moved from the vehicles which can be found in the
SDS Library at
The updated inventory list and maintaining the SDS
readily available for employees are two major compo-
nents of the HazComm requirements. Two of five.
Maintaining a written hazard communication program
detailing the plans for the safe handling of chemicals
is also very important. For those salvage yards on the
safety subscription that document
will be in the front pocket of the
red safety binder. Unfortunately a
quick straw poll tells me that the
documents are not being custom-
ized to each facility. A sample
plan is also available in the SDS
Library along with the Inventory
List. Download the sample and
make it specific to your shop.
HazComm 2012 mandated SDS
compliant secondary labeling on
storage containers at the facility. It
also has an updated requirement
for shipping labels in the SDS for-
mat utilizing the pictograms in the
figure. You will be seeing the pri-
mary (more lengthy) labels on
drums of products purchased. The
labeling requirement actually ap-
plies to all sizes of containers!
Labels will be available for order
soon. Until then samples are avail-
able for download in the library.
By June 2016 all fluid tanks, drums and small con-
tainers will need to be labeled using the SDS second-
ary labeling format.
The example here incorporates the OSHA SDS
HazComm, NFPA Fire Diamond, and EPA/DNR
product/material identification labeling in one combi-
nation chemical resistance labels for about $3 (once
the used oil and used antifreeze SDSs are available).
The final requirement is training employees on the
chemical hazards and necessary precautions. This is
accomplished by a review of the SDS information. In
the last two years the safety subscription have trained
on the new SDS format and HazComm globalized
standards, now augment that training by reviewing
the actual SDS with employees exposed to the chem-
ical in their job duties so that they not only know to
reference the SDS in the event of an emergency but
they are familiar with hazards, storage and response
for each chemical they use or evacuate during the
course of their work day.