The world we live in is full of chemicals, from our body that produces some to the water we drink, which is a chemical compound.
There are numerous chemicals in our world and most of them are man-made synthetic compounds we use almost every day like gasoline, paints, household cleaners, detergents, toiletries, wipes and many more. Although no one can agree on how much of these are out and about in the world, professionals have agreed that 100,000+ chemicals are a part of our lives.
Now, it’s only normal that we strive to learn everything we can about any chemical product before using it. This information is available in the form of a free publication known as an SDS (Safety Data Sheet). These sheets are created in accordance with OSHA guidelines, which mandate that all chemical makers, distributors, and importers have SDSs (previously known as MSDS – Material Safety Data Sheets). This is how they convey product dangers to all of us who are interested in or using them for our requirements.
All of these SDS are subject to rigorous check-ups and control which is why they need to follow a specific format and provide very detailed info in 16 different sections. Since the laws and legislations change very fast you need someone that will look out for your SDSs and update them as the changes occur. This is where this website can help you immensely and we think you should check them out.
Not let’s continue the topic of SDS sheets and just how often do they need to be updated!
When it comes to these things you can never really be too much careful. SDS data sheets are something that is heavily regulated and watched over for meaning you always have to have your data aligned and up to date. The short answer to the question of our topic today is the SDS sheets do need to be updated but there are also some other things you need to know.
The timing and method for updating your SDS sheets will vary depending on your company’s products and whatever regulations you are subject to. All data sheets must be updated every three years, according to industry standards. If you haven’t made any substantial modifications to the formulation, this is the last time you’ll need to update your SDS sheets. If, on the other hand, you make any modifications, you must update them as soon as possible since you, as a manufacturer, as well as your distributors, resellers, and end-users, must all be aware of them.
All SDS sheets were required to be updated every three years under the former CPR or Controlled Product standards, regardless of any modifications. The SDS date must to be within three years of this date. This law has now been revised, and the CPR regulation has waived the three-year update cycle in some areas, but there is still a lot of misinformation out there. Although some areas have waived this law, others have not, which means you must know where you stand and when these documents need to be updated. What’s the point here? Because you’re selling to portions of the world where the CPR legislation is still in effect, you’ll need to update your SDS sheets to keep working. You must also consider federal requirements, and if they state that you must revise your SDS whenever substantial new data becomes available, you must comply.
For most of you dealing with this, numerous questions emerge from your day to day operations, which is why it is important to have someone to cooperate with that can only deal with these regulations and SDS sheets forming and updating. This way you can focus on your business, production, or distribution while someone other working for you deals with regulations, changes, notifications and updates accordingly, as they come up or as something significant changes.
New data is continually available thanks to this line of study, and it has the ability to improve your overall categorization. There is no way to determine if a classification change is necessary without diving into your product formulation, verifying with mixture suppliers, and so on. With current rules and regulations, you may be jeopardizing your company’s health as well as the health of your end-users. Regardless of official timetables and law and regulatory revisions, the greatest thing you can do to ensure that everything is legal and that you have peace of mind is to update your SDS sheets as often as possible, especially if you make any changes, no matter how little.
This only means that all chemical manufacturers, suppliers and all that deal with those until they reach the shelves and end-users need to have a periodical system of revision, review and update of their SDS sheets. As anything new is discovered, as any changes are made, for any product sold or manufactured review and update of the SDS sheets is a must.
There is another important thing and it considers the time frame of which you need to hold on to your SDS sheets. Since these are considered special documents defined as employee exposure records, according to the law you need to have them safe, maintained and available for any sort of revision or check for the next 30 years. The time frame is long but since we are talking about chemicals here it must be done in that manner, and no matter if a certain chemical or chemical compound is no longer in use, for whatever reason.
In conclusion, we have to say that doing business involving chemical manufacturing, transportation, selling or re-selling is a highly responsible business. Not only we are harming nature but we are potentially harming humans and animals as well. This is why it is important to have these publications that are telling us the proper way of usage and disposal of the chemicals we need or use. SDS sheets are there to protect us and this is why you all need to have them periodically checked, updated and changed according to new occurrences.
