Material safety data sheet format under HazCom

March 4, 1985
Richard Homik, Supervisor
Occupational Safety & Hygiene
Sherritt Gordon Mines, Ltd.
Metal and Chemical Division
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Homik:
This is in response to your letter of February 11 requesting information on the adequacy of your firm's planned MSDS format for compliance with the OSHA Hazard Communication and Labeling standard.
To begin with, the regulatory philosophy of the Reagan Administration is to provide the business community with maximum flexibility with respect to how compliance with regulatory objectives is achieved. Toward that end, OSHA is phasing out the use of the Form 20 which previously served as a format for MSDS sheets. We are not planning to prescribe any fixed format, nor are we in a position to review and approve the formats selected by the various companies required to issue MSDS's pursuant to the Hazard Communication standard.
However, the standard requires chemical manufacturers and importers to develop an MSDS for each hazardous chemical they produce (or if they are US importers) for products they import. These must be supplied, updated, and provided to purchasers in SIC codes 20-39 which comprises the manufacturing sector.
In order to assist you in reaching a decision on the final format of your firm's MSDS, I can provide you with a 12 item list drawn from the standard itself which comprises the information categories that must be reflected in the MSDS. Of course firms are free to format an MSDS any way they want, and to include additional information as well. The following categories of information must be included:

1. Product identity
2. Physical and chemical characteristics
3. Physical hazard
4. Health hazard
5. Routes of entry or exposure
6. Exposure limits
7. Carcinogenicity potential
8. Precautions for handling and use
9. Applicable control measures
10. Emergency and first aid procedures
11. Date of preparation and or change
12. Preparer and where additional information may be obtained.

We in OSHA appreciate the care and concern your firm has evidenced in preparing to work with us to implement this important standard. I hope this information will prove helpful to you. If you have any additional specific concerns about the Hazard Communication and Labeling standard you can direct them to [the Office of General Industry Enforcement at (202) 693-1850.]
Sincerely,
Gary Strobel
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary
For Occupational Safety and Health
[Corrected 1/29/2009]

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]