Mary Ellen is right. And since it’s hard to know what employee was exposed when, we just keep ours forever, archiving them eventually. Soon we hope to go digital which will at least cut way down on the paper.
From:
DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Mary Ellen Abel
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:05
AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L]
MSDS Retention
It is my
understanding that the '30 years' refers to the date of the last
potential exposure, not the data that the MSDS was received. So
that 30 years might actually be 45 years, if that individual used it for
a period beyond its first use. Although I am not in an OSHA
regulated facility, we have been screening MSDSs for products used in
our underground mine long before Haz Com was ever developed.
Mary
Ellen Abel
Quality Assurance & Environmental Manager
Morton
Salt
P.O. Box 428
Grand River, OH 44045-0428
phone:
440-639-4279
fax: 440-639-4269
cell:
440-479-9022
"Peifer,
Patricia" <Patricia.Peifer**At_Symbol_Here**WESTPHARMA.COM>
02/23/2011 09:17 AM
|
|
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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