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Environmental & Risk Management / Material Safety Data Sheets / Business Process Owner - MSDS

Overview: Business Process Owner - MSDS

Before you can enter MSDSs into the system, a safety officer or other person familiar with MSDS management must first define the values from which you will choose when entering the MSDS. Use the Business Process Owner - MSDS process to develop this data.

Depending on how detailed your site's data entry is, you may not need to complete all of these subjects. For example, if you do not intend to enter the constituent chemicals for each MSDS, you do not need to provide the Chemical List data. Be sure to carefully analyze your site's reporting needs and determine the exact tables that you need to complete. Otherwise, you may complete background data that you will not use in your standard operations.

As an absolute minimum, however, you will need to capture the manufacturer's contact information using the Define Companies task.

1. Define Companies - Enter company contact information such as address, phone, emergency contact, and website URL. This data is then used in selections lists for the chemical's manufacturer, distributor, and preparer. You complete these selection lists when defining an MSDS.
2. Define Chemicals - Enter chemical identification information, including the chemical name, hazard classification, CAS number, and an assortment of other identifiers. The chemical data is needed so that when you create an MSDS for a hazardous material, you can enter its constituent chemical elements by choosing from the list you define in this step.
3. Define the hazard classification systems that you will use at your site. ARCHIBUS provides a flexible system for defining up to three levels of hazard classification, which can then be applied to an MSDS. Define your levels using these tasks:
   • Define Hazard Classification System - Top level -- identifies the system.
   • Define Hazard Classes - Second level - identifies classes of hazards.
   • Define Hazard Categories - Third level, defines categories within a class.
   • Define Hazard Classification - This task enables you to define all three levels using one task.
4. Define Container Categories and Types. Container types are associated with an MSDS When you specify the MSDS's location, you associate it with a container type so that the system can determine the quantity of a substance within a particular area. Run these tasks to define the types of containers and how related types of containers are grouped into categories.
   • Define Container Categories
   • Define Container Types
5. Define Units - Define units of measurements so that you can enter the size of storage containers and the physical properties associated with the MSDS.

Provided MSDS Project Data

As you work through the above tasks, you will notice that the HQ sample project contains MSDS data that is based on accepted conventions, guidelines, and practices. Likewise, as you complete your own project database with background MSDS data, you will note that your project database automatically contains these same records. For example, the Chemicals table contains a list of chemicals and their associated RTECS, UN, and ISCS numbers.

These records are provided as a courtesy to help you quickly get started with the MSDS application, and save you from entering into your project database this standard information. Since you may be filing MSDS paperwork that is based on this data, be sure to review it for accuracy and completeness.

You will notice that many of these records are US-based, such as US EPA Tier 2 Classifications. Non-US users can delete these records and enter their own data, based on the government regulations to which they must adhere.

The HQ sample project, as well as any new projects that you start, contain the following MSDS records:

• A partial list of chemical constituents, and their CAS Numbers and US EPA Tier 2 Classifications. Access these chemical records with these tasks:
  • Environmental & Risk Management / MSDS / Business Process Owner - MSDS / Define Chemicals
  • Environmental & Risk Management / MSDS / Business Process Owner Reports / Chemicals List
• Hazard classifications, including some or all of the categories defined in:
  • 67/548/EEC -- Dangerous Substances Directive of the European Union
  • GHS-Rev 04 -- The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, from http://live.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_rev04/English/07e_annex3.pdf
  • HMIS III -- The Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) developed by the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA)
  • NFPA 704, a standard maintained by the U.S.-based National Fire Protection Association

  Access the hazard classifications with this task: (also partially viewable in other MSDS  tasks)

  • Environmental & Risk Management / MSDS / Business Process Owner - MSDS / Define Hazard Classifications
• Container category classifications as defined for US EPA Tier II Submission. Access this data with this task:
  • Environmental & Risk Management / MSDS / Business Process Owner - MSDS / Define Container Categories
• Many unit definitions and conversion factors. You will want to check and adjust the default settings to reflect your organization’s preference or locale. See the following task:
  • Environmental & Risk Management / MSDS / Business Process Owner - MSDS / Define Units