MSDSs:
Introduction:
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are an important source of information about properties and hazards of chemicals used in the workplace. Along with chemical, physical, and toxicological properties, a MSDS provides information on precautions needed to work with the chemical, including suggested methods for storing, transporting, or disposing of the chemical.
While there are additional resources for looking up extensive information about chemicals (see below), the MSDS is the best place to start before you begin working with a chemical. At UCR, you can look up MSDSs at www.actiocms.com/chemquik
Important MSDS Update! The vendor who provides the online service for our Material Safety Database Sheets has changed, so the url and the page you will see are different!
To look up a MSDS:
First stops:
Material Safety Data Sheets
www.actiocms.com/chemquik
ChemQuick
University of California has contracted Actio Corporation to provide a critical online service for chemical safety information. You can access this service from any computer with a UC IP address by going to www.actiocms.com/chemquik Actio Corporation provides access to over a million Material Safety Data Sheets from over 13,000 current manufacturers.
Chemical Hazards Information
MICROMEDEX
Micromedex TOMES CPSTM system
This is a commercial database providing one-stop shopping for critical chemical properties, medical effects and treatment, use and manufacturing, personal exposure, data and more!
Other sources for material safety data sheets:
General MSDS Sites
- Vermont SIRI MSDS Collection
- This is a useful site with ~ 140,000 MSDSs. The contents of this site are integrated into the UC MSDS site, but it is listed here as well for your convenience. It also has lots of links to other related web sites.
- University of Kansas - Department of Environment, Health & Safety
- This contains Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) on the Internet
- Cornell University
- This is a reliable site with ~ 250,000 MSDSs. It also accommodates synonyms very well.
- Oxford University MSDS Database
- This consists of a non-searchable A-Z listing of MSDSs.
- Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated
- This site has an extensive MSDS link library.
- Hazardous Chemical Information
- This is a chemical database at the University of Akron
- MSDS Provider
- This site gives you free access to manufacturer material safety data sheets
Manufacturer and Supplier MSDS Sites
- Fisher Scientific (ACROS, Mallinckrodt, Kodak, Fisher Brand Chemicals) - MSDS Search Instruction
- Fisher provides MSDSs on demand.
- VWR MSDS Info (JT Baker, EM Science)
- This site allows you to search for MSDSs
- Alfa Aesar
- Search for MSDSs from this manufacturer and supplier of research chemicals, metals and materials.
- Matheson Trigas Materials Safety Data Sheets
- This includes Material Safety Data Sheets for the Matheson gases.
- Spartan Chemical Company
- Janitorial and maintenance chemicals.
Other Chemical Hazards Information Sites:
The following sources provide various types of chemical hazard information, but are not technically MSDSs as defined by the Hazard Communication standard.- OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database
- Database reports available include: "Physical Properties," "Exposure Guidelines," "NIOSH Pocket Guide," and "Emergency Response Information," including the DOT Emergency Response Guide.
- Laboratory Chemical Safety Summaries
- In consideration of the special problems of planning chemical experiments, Laboratory Chemical Safety Summaries (LCSSs) were created and are available for selected chemicals.
- Chemical Compatibility Guide from Cole-Parmer Instrument Company
- Use this chemical site to search for chemical compatibilities.
- OSHNET – Chemical Safety, Hazardous Materials and MSDS page
- This includes a compendium of links
- EPA Fact Sheets
- General hazard information is provided for each chemical listed.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQTM Menu
- ATSDR ToxFAQs is a series of summaries about hazardous substances
- Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) Chemical Profiles and Emergency First Aid Guides
- Each chemical profile includes physical/chemical properties, health hazards, fire and explosion hazards, reactivity data, precautions for safe handling and use, and protective equipment for emergency situations. The first aid guide provides signs and symptoms of poisoning and emergency treatment for first responders.
- UCSD Poison Information Center
- The California Poison Control System is the new way poison control services are being provided to the citizens of California.
- ATSDR Home Page
- This site provides chemical hazard and toxicity information.
- CS ChemFinder
- This is a commercial site with related chemical information and structures.
- Hazardous Chemical Database - The University of Akron, Department of Chemistry
- This is hazardous chemical and response information.
- International Chemical Safety Cards
- CDC provides world health organization international chemical safety information available in a number of languages.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ToxFAQs TM
- This includes a series of summaries of hazardous substances.
- EPA's Integrated Risk Information System
- This is a database of human health effects that may result from exposure to substances.
- Chemical Safety from the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health
- This site contains various resources for safety.
- The National Library of Medicine's Haz-Map
- An occupational health database designed for health and safety professionals and for consumers seeking information about the health effects of exposure to chemicals at work.
Pesticides / Chemical Hazard Information Sites
- EXTOXNET (Extension Toxicology Network)
- The EXTOXNET InfoBase provides a variety of information about pesticides.
- TOXNET (TOXicology Data NETwork)
- TOXNET (TOXicology Data NETwork) is a computerized system of files oriented to toxicology and related areas.
Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
- Haz-Map
- Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents, Specialized Information Services of U.S. National Library of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health
- A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
- Search Occupational Health and Safety Related Sites
Biological Hazards Information Sites
- Biosafety MSDS Data Base from Health Canada
- Look up MSDS from the A-Z menu at the bottom.
- Cornell University Poisonous Plants
- This is includes plant images, pictures of affected animals and presentations on prevention of poisoning of animals by plants and other natural flora.
Related Resources
- ECOLOGIA (ECOlogists Linked for Organizing Grassroots Initiatives and Action)
- A practical focus on local projects with direct involvement in international policy-making arenas is geared toward reducing the global-local gap.
- Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
- It is an outstanding compendium of Health & Safety related web sites.
- National Library of Medicine
- This site deals with environmental health and toxicology.
- European Chemical Substances Information System (EINECS)
- This website can be used to find the Spanish, French or German names for chemicals that are listed in EINECS. It's best to use the CAS number because some chemical compounds have several names.
If you cannot locate a Material Safety Data Sheet on the internet...
It can be obtained from the Environmental Health and Safety Department by contacting EH&S at x25528 or sending an email to ehsmsds@vcamail.ucr.edu. Please specify the name of the material and the manufacturer. EH&S will gladly provide as many MSDSs as you desire.
Emergency: If you need a Material Safety Data Sheet during after hours, call the Police dispatcher, x25222. Tell them that you need someone from EH&S to come in and get an MSDS for you. Be sure to give them your name, location, and phone # where you can be reached so that the information will get to you.
Preparation: Users of chemicals are required to maintain availability of MSDSs in their work area.
What do I do if I receive an MSDS from a company?
EH&S is transitioning the handling and management of hard copy MSDSs to electronic format. If your worksite does not allow workers access to a computer with an internet connection during their work shift, then MSDSs must be maintained on site in hard copy. If all workers do have access to the internet, then EH&S will only be obtaining and providing those MSDSs that ARE NOT presently available via the web.
If you do receive a hard copy MSDS from the manufacturer, send a copy to EH&S. Some companies send one Material Safety Data Sheet per account number. The campus may receive only one MSDS even though multiple departments are using the material. EH&S is a central repository for MSDSs on campus. Users of chemicals are strongly encouraged to keep MSDSs in their work area, and EH&S will gladly provide as many MSDSs as you desire.
Please do not request a manufacturer to change the shipping address for Material Safety Data Sheets, as you will receive all MSDSs for chemicals from that manufacturer no matter who on campus purchased the material. Others who are relying on that information to begin projects may not get the information they need.
If you are missing MSDSs, please contact us and we will get them for you.