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From: Ben Ruekberg <bruekberg**At_Symbol_Here**CHM.URI.EDU>
Subject: Re: MSDS Retention
Date: Feb 23, 2011 15:27 UTC
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Message-ID: <legacy-2011-20110223a@ilpi.com>
In-Reply-To: <28F93920539A4F4AB4FE1199003CAD2F032F2D70**At_Symbol_Here**USVFMBX01.WestPharma.net>
It is my impression that you are correct. Not only can you show that you had the MSDSs at the time of someone’s alleged exposure, but (perhaps more importantly) you can document that any later-discovered hazards were not known at the time. Consider phenolphthalein, formerly in Ex-Lax, now a carcinogen. Similarly, chloroform used to be in toothpaste (for that tingly feeling).
From:
DCHAS-L
Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On
Behalf Of Peifer, Patricia
Sent: Wednesday, February
23, 2011
9:06 AM
To:
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] MSDS
Retention
A debate has come up within our organization concerning the retention of MSDSs. I have been saving old copies of MSDSs for which new revisions have been issued. My understanding is that this would be proof that we did have the MSDS on file if an employee claimed twenty years later that they were exposed to a chemical and said we did not provide them with adequate information. I planned on keeping them for thirty years.
Others in my organization feel I may be wasting my time. They feel I should be throwing out older versions and only retaining the latest copy particularly if the revisions were not significant. They do agree however, that I should be keeping old MSDSs for chemicals for which we discontinue use.
Any thoughts? Thank you, everyone.
Pat Peifer
Health Safety and Training Team Leader
West Pharmaceutical Services
Find West on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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