IF you've ever lived through a renovation, chances are you've seen and smelled some odd stuff being applied to the walls, floors and ceilings in your home. You probably never gave much thought to the adhesives, paints and solvents your contractor uses. And that's not a big deal, because the products any sensible contractor would use in your home likely have been approved for residential use.
But sometimes you may find that a construction product irritates your skin, eyes or lungs. What do you do? You need to know how to treat the irritation the right way -- and you need to act quickly before things get worse. One place to turn is the product packaging. (Everyone knows to look for first-aid suggestions there.) A better place to turn is the product's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
The MSDS lists the dangers and safety procedures associated with a product -- and it contains way more information about the product than a box label ever could list. On an MSDS, you'll find information about how to use the product safely, what you can expect if someone didn't follow the recommended procedures of use, what to do if accidents occur, what to look for if you suspect overexposure to a product, and what to do in an emergency.
You won't find MSDSs for every product on the market. They're not often created for consumer goods. But manufacturers must create MSDSs for any industrial product that is controlled by the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and that may be used in your home. They exist for drywall, spray foam, adhesives, concrete, paints ---- you name it. Almost every product your contractor might be using on your project has an MSDS that you can access.
How to read an MSDS
What's included on an MSDS? Lots. Depending on the manufacturer or supplier, an MSDS will have either nine sections or 16. (Our Canadian standard is the nine-section version; manufacturers in the United States use 16.)
Let's look at the nine sections of a Canadian MSDS.
Part 1 -- on product information -- is where you'll find the product's name, its intended uses and its chemical composition, as well as the manufacturer's name and contact details.
Turn to Part 2 -- on hazardous ingredients -- for a detailed list of any dangerous chemicals, as well as the percentage (by weight or volume) in which they appear in the product. You'll also find information on lethal-dose and lethal-concentration test results, plus permissible, and maximum, exposure limits.
Sections three, four and five list the product's chemical and physical properties, ways to prevent (and extinguish) fires associated with the product, and the conditions under which this product could create dangerous chemical reactions.
Section 6 treats toxicity. Here, you'll find information on the short- and long-term health effects of using this product, whether the product is irritating or can cause sensitivities, allergies or cancer, and even whether it can interfere with normal cell or tissue development.
Sections seven and eight list the equipment that should be worn to ensure a product's safe use, and first-aid procedures. Section nine tells you who wrote the MSDS and when.
So how do you get an MSDS? You can approach the product manufacturer, but I don't guarantee you'll get far. They're not legally obliged to provide you with an MSDS. In any case, you can get results far more quickly if you look online. I'd suggest you start with The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's website. That group maintains a comprehensive database of product MSDSs. But in a real emergency -- when you need immediate medical attention -- an attending doctor can compel a manufacturer or supplier to deliver an MSDS.
Beware: MSDSs aren't perfect
MSDSs do have their limitations. They can be hard to understand, since they are technical documents written for safety professionals and occupational hygienists. To make sure you get the right help you need, speak with a doctor or nurse.
The exposure limits on MSDSs were developed using the average adult male as a standard. That means the limits may not be well-suited to small children, sick people, the elderly or pregnant or nursing women.
MSDSs expire. In Canada, MSDSs must be updated every three years. Always check for an expiry date.
When you don't know what's going on your walls, floors and ceilings, an MSDS is a good place to start doing research. It's your job to educate yourself and know as much as you can about every aspect of your renovation.
---- Postmedia News
Catch Mike in his new series, Holmes Inspection, airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV. For more information, visit www.hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.
