Accuracy, comprehensibility, and use of material safety data sheets: A review

Nicol, Anne‐Marie; Hurrell, Christie; Wahyuni, Desy; McDowall, Will; Chu, Winnie C.W.

doi:10.1002/ajim.20613

Cited by 38 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 39 publications

(127 reference statements)

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“…The habit of describing generic RMMs in the SDS is a contributing factor to a major part of the complaints about SDSs, which connect to previous findings of previous studies of SDSs (e.g. Nicol et al, 2008). The findings of the present study show that the issues with SDSs and supply chain communication are far from resolved by the current state of implementation of REACH.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Shortcomings of the SDS have been found in numerous studies over the years, both in European countries and others; for instance that SDS are not made available to workers, are not fully accurate and/or complete and contain insufficient information to allow identification of all hazards or sufficient RMMs (Nicol et al, 2008;Suleiman and Svendsen, 2014). The SDS improvements required by REACH, both with respect to contents and communication could thus have a major impact on OHS management.…”

Section: Reach Impact On Occupational Risk Management Of Chemicalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Implementation of the chemicals regulation REACH – Exploring the impact on occupational health and safety management among Swedish downstream users

Schenk

Antonsson

2015

Safety Science

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a b s t r a c tIn the present study we have examined how the European chemicals regulation Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) has influenced occupational risk management of chemicals at Swedish downstream user companies. The data were collected through interviews with occupational health and safety professionals, safety representatives and authority employees. The results show that most of the informants had scarce knowledge about REACH and that REACH implementation has not had any major impacts on downstream users' occupational risk management, but the impacts the regulation has had were perceived as positive. For instance, clear substance identification and increased hazard information were appreciated improvements of safety data sheets (SDS). However, with regards to identifying how to safely use a substance or product neither the SDSs nor the attached exposure scenarios were perceived as sufficient. REACH was not perceived as a major driver for substitution but has had some impact on substitution, either by requiring it for certain substances as through the authorisation procedure or facilitating the identification of relevant substances to substitute as more information on hazards has become available. The obstacles to REACH implementation are similar to those of occupational health and safety legislation; lack of awareness, understanding and/or incentives to take action. Especially smaller companies with their limited resources lag behind. Reaching the full potential of REACH requires more work on motivating and supporting downstream users to fulfil their REACH obligations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Reach Impact On Occupational Risk Management Of Chemicalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementation of the chemicals regulation REACH – Exploring the impact on occupational health and safety management among Swedish downstream users

Schenk

Antonsson

2015

Safety Science

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“…The failure of SDSs to communicate risk information to individuals with little knowledge of toxicology and chemistry has been noted in previous studies as well (Kolp et al ; Nicol et al ). The accuracy, comprehensibility, and use of MSDSs (the earlier version of the SDSs) were examined in a review article by Nicol and colleagues (). The study showed that many workers were unable to understand MSDSs due to the complex language used to describe hazards and the layouts of the MSDSs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Flows of Chemical Risk Information in the Consumer Paint Product Chain

Fransson

Brunklaus²,

Molander

2013

J of Industrial Ecology

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Summary In this study the flows of chemical risk information for paint as a consumer product were investigated from a product chain perspective. The main method of research involved semi‐structured interviews with Swedish manufacturers of paint and chemicals. In addition, retailers and consumers were interviewed. The flows of chemical risk information between actors within (e.g., manufacturers, retailers, and consumers) and outside (e.g., industry associations and regulators) the paint product chain are described. Because the European chemical legislation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of CHemicals) plays a large role in the management of chemical risk information at companies, some consequences of REACH on actors in the paint product chain are described. Examples of such consequences are that importing of chemicals from non–European Union (EU) countries may be discouraged and that some low‐volume chemicals may no longer be produced. However, manufacturers do not yet see these consequences as impediments to innovation. The results of this work show that chemical risk information is most comprehensive during the manufacturing steps of the product chain. This is due not only to tradition and industry initiatives, but also to REACH and other legislation. The results also illustrate the need for evaluation of how chemical risk information is used in different contexts and the importance of directing the right information at the right target group. Following legislative development, more specialized information is required in the safety data sheet (SDS), and because of this many manufacturers find it necessary to create simplified safety sheets that make the most pertinent safety and hazard information easily accessible to individuals that handle the chemicals in their factories. The study found that in creating the simplified safety sheets, the content and use of chemical risk information is evaluated and adjusted for presentation to this particular target group. It is evident that the Swedish Paint and Printing Ink Makers Association plays an important role in the interpretation of legal requirements and even in agreements for providing information that exceeds legal requirements.

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“…The obvious approach is therefore to use the hazard communication elements on the SDS of the assessed hazardous substance as primary information sources on hazardous properties for hazard banding. However, studies reveal that "accuracy and completeness were found to be relatively poor" on many SDSs (Nicol et al, 2008). Within the framework of the REACH regulation, the authorities are making efforts to improve the quality of SDSs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%