You should always read the name of the chemical, know the hazards, understand safe handling and storage instructions, as well as understand what to do in an emergency. A lot of health hazard information, for example, is written in general terms. Your health and safety specialist, occupational health nurse or family doctor should be able to help you find more information if needed. You should look at a MSDS, match the name of the chemical on your container to the one on the MSDS, know the hazards, understand safe handling and storage instructions, as well as understand what to do in an emergency. MSDSs look different because only the content of the MSDS is specified by law.
Some suppliers put more details in than what is required.
However, the information for the nine basic categories must always be in a Canadian MSDS for a controlled product. The MSDSs must be readily available to the workers who are exposed to the controlled product and to the health and safety committee or representative. If a controlled product is made in the workplace, the employer has a duty to make an MSDS for any of these products. OSH Answers Search Help OSH Answers Search is designed to help you specifically target items about Occupational Health and Safety that are explained in the OSH Answers portion of our site.