Managing MSDSs electronically

摘要

Question: Is managing Material Safety Data Sheets electronically OSHA-compliant? Answer: In short, the answer is "yes" ... as long as a company meets the following three criteria: 1. It has a backup system in place in case of a foreseeable emergency; that being any situation that renders the electronic system inaccessible or inoperable (service interruptions, power outages, etc.). 2. It ensures the electronic system, same as a traditional paper-based system, is integrated into the overall hazard communication plan. Employees must be made aware of the MSDS management system that is in place, and must be trained on how to access and use the system. 3. It ensures employees have access to hard copies if requested. It's a common misconception that paper MSDS management systems - typically three-ring binders - are the only compliant MSDS management solution. While OSHA's hazard communication standard (1910.1200) requires companies to produce hard copies of MSDSs upon request, it does not require companies to use a paper-management solution or even have pre-printed copies of MSDSs on hand.