Ask the expert—MSDS for household products
Q: Must my practice have material safety data sheets (MSDS) for household products used in the workplace?
A: This is a common question; the classic examples being glass cleaners such as Windex and correction fluid such as Wite-Out. An MSDS is not necessary for a household product if employees use the product “where the duration and frequency of use (and therefore exposure) is not greater than what the typical consumer would experience,” according to an OSHA fact sheet concerning the hazard communication standard.
The key point is how the product is actually used. If employees are spending eight hours a day scrubbing windows with Windex or painting memos with Wite-Out, you must have an MSDS for those products.
For a handy decision chart on MSDS, download Determining when an MSDS is necessary from the Tools section.
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David LaHoda
David LaHoda, the managing editor of Medical Environment Update and OSHA Watch, has produced healthcare training videos and consulted for medical practices and ambulatory healthcare facilities.
David has written 196 posts.
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