· If it did start on fire, what should I use to put the fire out? · Is it dangerous to mix this product with other chemicals?  If so, which ones? · Can this product cause harmful effects?   If so, what? · What can I do to keep myself safe while working with this product? · If I need special protective equipment, do I have that equipment? · What should I do if I spill this product? Adapted from the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board · Do I have the right MSDS for the product I’m working with? · Is this MSDS less than three years old?  (Every MSDS should be updated at least every three years.) · Could this product become unstable?  If so, how could that happen? · Could this product explode or start on fire?  If so, how do I keep that from happening? Questions to Ask Yourself When Reading an MSDS In the Know Reading a Material Safety Data Sheet Keep in Mind... If you work in a client’s home, and you use normal household chemicals just like you would in your own home, then your employer does not need to have an MSDS for that product.  For example, if at your client’s home, you use laundry detergent and toilet bowl cleaner the same way you would at your house, OSHA does not require an MSDS.   You still need to follow the label warnings and directions...and never use an unlabeled product. When you look at an MSDS, it might seem like you should be a chemistry professor to understand the information.!  Just keep in mind that each Material Safety Data Sheet tells you about: ·    The hazards of the product. ·    How to use the product safely. ·    What to do if there is an emergency with that chemical. The key is knowing where to look for that information.  By studying a few sample MSDS’s, you’ll get the hang of where to find this important safety information.  There are usually at least 8 sections to an MSDS, covering the following information: 1.  The product name and manufacturer. 2.  The chemical ingredients in the product.  (It may be just one chemical or it may be a mixture.) 3.  The characteristics of the product, including the appearance.  (This is the part that sounds like a chemistry professor!) 4.  Any physical hazards like fire and explosion, and what to do about them. 5.  Any health hazards, including signs that you have been exposed. 6.  Any protective equipment needed while using this product. 7.  How to clean up a spill or a leak and how to dispose of this product. 8.  How to handle and how to store this product. Page 5