Reprinted from the ACJ - November, 1997
Interpreting an MSDS ?
Life spins by at an unbelievable rate. Scientists tell us the world's surface is traveling at about 1000 mph just to keep up with one rotation every 24 hours. It sure seems to be spinning that fast as you try to finish up everything at the end of month.
But, just as gravity keeps us from flying off of the earth like a little kid being launched from one of those spin-around rides in the park, we devise ways to speed up our everyday chores, making us more efficient.
Language is one place we try to be more efficient. Why waste time talking, when a few abbreviations or acronyms can take the place of a lengthy sentence. Just look at the computer industry. Anybody who is anybody knows that "16 MB of RAM in MS-DOS on your CPU" is the bare essentials. Even "ON," and "OFF" was too time consuming for these fast paced folks' . Thus "1" and "O" are marked on the switch.
The problem with this type of language condensation is that not everyone understands the shortened text. A quick survey of the folks around the office here at Johnson's revealed that no one knew if they were the letters I and O (for In and Out) or 1 and 0 for a digital representation.
My point is that efficiency in the presentation of information is a good thing, as long as the folks it is aimed at can decipher and understand it.
The readability of written information, such as a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS for us efficient types) is very important to the accomplishment of its purpose. Sure the type style has to be eye pleasing and the fax machine has to give us a legible copy. But I'm speaking more about the language used to convey the necessary precautions and product information.
For those of us who read MSDS, it is frustrating when the information we need is tied up in "big" words like pneumoconiosis. For those of us who write MSDS, it is frustrating when the information can be conveyed using that one word or "A respiratory tract and lung condition caused by inhalation and retention of an irritant mineral or metallic particles, possibly resulting in fibrosis. Fibrosis being the formation of fibrous tissue in a response to inhaled particles in excess of amounts normally present in the lung tissue walls, thus reducing the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange efficiency." A fine line has to be walked by both the writers and readers of MSDS.
When writing an MSDS, it is important to keep the form concise. No one wants to read and interpret a 30-page MSDS. But wherever possible, "plain English" should be used to help the reader. It is a good idea that when using a "big word" for the first time, include a definition. Subsequently, the reader is on his own. If you use a technical term without explanation, it is like talking to a non-English speaking foreigner and yelling at him louder and louder in English, figuring it will make more sense to him at high volume.
As readers of MSDS, you can gain a great deal of insight by using an MSDS dictionary. Most safety and lab supply companies have them for sale. The HEALTH WATCH articles in the Automotive Cooling Journal (ACJ, to be more efficient) dated February and March 1995 have some of the more common terms defined. Another approach is to use the MSDS author as a source of information. If he wrote it, he should be able to explain it. So call the supplier/manufacturer and quiz them.
As a shop owner and/or safety director, you have the worst of both worlds. First, you have to read and understand the MSDS, then turn around and explain it to your coworkers. Using the old military acronym "KISS- Keep It Simple Stupid" is your best approach.
Be sure not to "dumb it down" too much though. Everybody likes to learn new things, but no one likes to be talked down to. By increasing your understanding of the terms and phrases used on MSDS, you can instruct your folks in language that's easier to comprehend. It may also come in handy when relaying medical conditions to doctors or paramedics in an emergency. An added benefit is that you can more easily follow the rapid fire banter on shows like "ER."
For effective learning in the shop, discussion groups or assigning products to each worker
works well. Have each person relay what they learned in a meeting to the rest of the group. That could prove interesting. Try a variety of methods and see which works best for you.
No one method is best unless it works in your shop. Remember that the definition of insanity is the belief that continually repeating a behavior, the same way, will provide different results... Wait, that's not very clear. Let me try again. REMEMBER! THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS THE BELIEF THAT...
The above article was written by David M. Brown, Chief Engineer of Johnson Manufacturing Company, Inc. and is published by JOHNSON with the expressed approval of the National Automotive Radiator Service Association and the Automotive Cooling Journal. Other reproduction or distribution of this information is forbidden without the written consent of JOHNSON and NARSA/ACJ. All rights reserved.
JOHNSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
114 Lost Grove Road / PO Box 96 / Princeton, Iowa 52768-0096
Phone 563-289-5123 or Fax 563-289-3825