Material safety data sheets for products used in auto repair and body shops: 1980-2009

A survey of contents and quality of material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for products used in auto repair and body shops was initiated in 1980 in cooperation with UAW shops in the New York City tri-state metropolitan area. The author has continued to review MSDSs for products in the study group; an update commenced in January 2009. Over the years, MSDSs have been found to be lacking in composition data, out-of-date, inaccurate (toxicity data, especially chronic toxicity data), inconsistent from sheet to sheet for identical chemicals, and generally poor in quality. LIttle improvement in quality has been seen over the years of the study. The problems noted for sheets in this product group can be extrapolated to other product groups as well. Problems with MSDSs can be attributed to shortcomings of HazCom, the OSHA Hazard Communication standard promulgated in final form in 1983. HazCom placed MSDSs at the center of workplace chemical education and training activities. Action is needed to improve the data workers receive on the chemical products to which they are exposed in the workplace.