Why MSDS binders are no longer a "good enough" approach

With new OSHA regulations coming into play, it’s time to rethink your bulky Material Safety Data Sheet binder.

New OSHA regulation ... Hazard communication

For all hazardous products, OSHA requires dental offices to maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) in a place that ensures they are readily available to employees and up-to-date. This requirement falls under a set of OSHA regulations called Hazard Communication regulations, often referred to as “right-to-know” requirements. These regulations have been around for decades, but in 2012, OSHA passed new requirements that directly impact dental offices. These requirements are being commonly referred to as the new Globally Harmonized System or GHS for short. Under these regulations, Material Safety Data Sheets have a whole new format, and are now being called Safety Data Sheets or SDS.

As a result, every MSDS has to be converted to the new GHS SDS format. Manufacturers have until June 1, 2015 to comply, but with over 100 million documents to be changed, many will not meet the deadline.

Special sneak peek: How you can stay ahead of the curve

In lieu of these upcoming changes, I’m excited to introduce you to AutoSDS: a new virtual safety data management tool that will help keep your practice ahead of the curve in preparing for these upcoming changes. Not only that, but this new service will help reduce the overall time it takes to get the most recent SDS documents into the hands of your employees, get rid of your dusty, old MSDS binder and comply with OSHA quicker and more cost effectively than ever before.

I encourage you to learn more about our new solution today by visiting AutoSDS.com. Plus, if you are at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, stop by the Patterson Dental Booth (#1025) for a product demo!

Editor's Note: References available upon request.