Fire Marshall again. How do you handle MSDS from various Mfg's?

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

So my fire marshall dropped by and I put him off. (Nice guy) I've got some things I want to work on, and he seemed to be fine with coming back.

Plastisol is plastisol is plastisol in my head. I know they are not chemically IDENTICAL, but for actual safety purposes they are, right? 

And Waterbased DC bases?  Do you keep SEPARATE MSDS sheets for those too? I've got lots of flavors of those.

 

[bimmridder]

First of all, the standard is now a SDS. MSDS are outdated and not what OSHA wants to see IF they come in. But that's another story. For some reason we get an inspection every year (maybe because central Fire Station is a block away) I have never had any issues with marking my plastisol I may have shown the inspector a MSDS a few years ago, but he doesn't even ask. He is more concerned with safety issues, emergency lighting, exits, etc. So here at least, One SDS for ink is good for both Fire Inspector and OSHA. Different cities, different codes.

[mk162]

Fire department here doesn't care about SDS sheets, they care more about safely exiting the building and preventing fires.  They are also VERY nice guys.

[mooseman]

They are going to know pretty much what the ink is all about without MSDS data. Some of the ink we have show the safety data on the label similar to below.
Don't kill yourself trying to figure out what ythey need / want, fix the obvious stuff and keep this in mind.
They should be looking at you as a manufacturing facility not a retail or place of public assembly unless you have a designated retail / sales area.
the requirements for a manufacturing facility are less demanding than a public assembly building.
I believe the general fire / safety code classification for a manufacturing facility is F2.
At any rate unless you get a real SOB they are generally pretty reasonable and witll work with you pretty well.
Good luck

[jsheridan]

If you have a chemical in your building that includes Windex to Clorox use to clean your toilet bowl with you should have an SDS sheet in the book on the wall. You can get the kit from Uline or just about any other safety oriented Place.

[Sbrem]

For being on the Mass. Water Resource Authority here outside of Boston, we are required to have them for everything, so we keep all of them together, but separated by class; inks, cleaners, etc. Then when they come in, "here they are"...

Steve

In case I have to say it, this works for all of the inspectors. They like your paperwork to be at least somewhat tidy. We paid a fine once for having it not so tidy...

[jsheridan]

In case I have to say it, this works for all of the inspectors. They like your paperwork to be at least somewhat tidy.

THIS.. https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-15383/Compliance-Centers/SDS-Compliance-Center

on the wall, at the entrance to the shop from the office, organized by section, sheet dividers, each page in a sheet protector. Special page for 'stored chemicals in the fireproof cabinet' kinds of thing.

like you said, inspectors love to see this. It shows them, you thought about the employees safety and that puts a smile on their face.

[RICK STEFANICK]

Great post..We are currently updating all the msds sheets and doing the required training.. thanks for all the good info