updating SDS's
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updating SDS's
I have to update all my SDS's when I get time. But I wonder if anyone at my school ever looks at them apart from me. And I rarely do. I guarantee if there is an issue/incident the teachers will just google it. They wont look up an SDS. RiskAssess does all the work for us. Curious what other labbies use them for. I have been here for a century and did read them all thoroughly when I had to print them off originally some 20 years ago. I have updated since then, but they rarely alter and it seems like a waste of time if they are identical.
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- Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
- Job Title: Labbie
- School: Wollondilly Anglican College
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- State/Location: NSW
Re: updating SDS's
Check your legislation but I think it is very similar to NSW. Staff that handle, use or store any hazardous chemicals must have access to a SDS. You have to consider that there may be staff without convenient access to a computer e.g. your maintenance team. Also consider if there is a power or internet outage.
SDSs are only valid for five years from the date of issue. It may seem that they don't change but some actually do change, replacing them every five years ensures that these changes are captured. Please be aware, this doesn't mean they all get updated every five years at the same time. You need to be checking them more frequently as their validity will expire at different times. In reality, most people check them every year.
I have a system here were each faculty receives a hard copy of their chemical register (list of chemicals and copies of SDSs) relevant to their area. I also have a folder on our cloud storage (Google Drive for us) with electronic copies of all SDSs for the whole college grouped together in faculties.
Yep, reality is most teachers will only look at Riskassess but the legislation says they must have access to the SDS and, really, they should read them.
The example I use is that the SDS has instructions for dealing with a spill. You should be familiar with those instructions before you handle the chemical. No point running around looking for the SDS when you have a chemical running across the floor.
Once you have a system in place, it is not too tricky to keep on top of it, especially if you are only looking after Science. I coordinate our whole Chem Register as part of my WHS role.
SDSs are only valid for five years from the date of issue. It may seem that they don't change but some actually do change, replacing them every five years ensures that these changes are captured. Please be aware, this doesn't mean they all get updated every five years at the same time. You need to be checking them more frequently as their validity will expire at different times. In reality, most people check them every year.
I have a system here were each faculty receives a hard copy of their chemical register (list of chemicals and copies of SDSs) relevant to their area. I also have a folder on our cloud storage (Google Drive for us) with electronic copies of all SDSs for the whole college grouped together in faculties.
Yep, reality is most teachers will only look at Riskassess but the legislation says they must have access to the SDS and, really, they should read them.
The example I use is that the SDS has instructions for dealing with a spill. You should be familiar with those instructions before you handle the chemical. No point running around looking for the SDS when you have a chemical running across the floor.
Once you have a system in place, it is not too tricky to keep on top of it, especially if you are only looking after Science. I coordinate our whole Chem Register as part of my WHS role.
- Anna Z
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- Joined: 16 Feb 2021, 14:39
- Job Title: Lab Manager
- School: DET Secondary School
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Re: updating SDS's
I am in a similar situation as Merilyn1, have a system and my spreadsheet actually flags when one is coming due (the 5 year mark)...I go in every 2-3 weeks and check, update and reprint if needed. I also review all our Chemical Risk Assesments (we do a RA on every chemical before it gets ordered / or reordered) yearly for DG chemicals and then on a less frequent basis for hazardous chemicals. Once your system is set up it sort of ticks along in the background.
- Labbie
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Re: updating SDS's
I never used them or every saw a teacher use them. But a NSW requirment so had to be done.
Regards Labbie
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
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- Job Title: Lab Technician
- School: FCAC
- State/Location: QLD
Re: updating SDS's
Going through ours ATM
There are Hydrogen Peroxide ones for 3% ,6%,9% and 35% . (LOL all from Chemwatch of course )
I see they are stored in the fridge . Now it seems that the lower strength ones are in Risk assess labeled bottles and presumably made from diluting down the 35% solution .
I was under the impression that only the purchased bottle , in this case the 35% H2O2 had to have an SDS , not the ones diluted in the Lab .
Have I got this right ?
There are Hydrogen Peroxide ones for 3% ,6%,9% and 35% . (LOL all from Chemwatch of course )
I see they are stored in the fridge . Now it seems that the lower strength ones are in Risk assess labeled bottles and presumably made from diluting down the 35% solution .
I was under the impression that only the purchased bottle , in this case the 35% H2O2 had to have an SDS , not the ones diluted in the Lab .
Have I got this right ?
- Labbie
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Re: updating SDS's
Correct, for NSW but I'm not too sure regarding QLD sorry Bigmack
Regards Labbie
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
- Anna Z
- Posts: 296
- Joined: 16 Feb 2021, 14:39
- Job Title: Lab Manager
- School: DET Secondary School
- State/Location: VIC
Re: updating SDS's
Depends on your auditor on the day!!. Generally only the highest is needed, but some who don't have a science background go all crazy and ask for all SDS's. We just keep the highest.bigmack wrote: ↑16 May 2024, 15:29 Going through ours ATM
There are Hydrogen Peroxide ones for 3% ,6%,9% and 35% . (LOL all from Chemwatch of course )
I see they are stored in the fridge . Now it seems that the lower strength ones are in Risk assess labeled bottles and presumably made from diluting down the 35% solution .
I was under the impression that only the purchased bottle , in this case the 35% H2O2 had to have an SDS , not the ones diluted in the Lab .
Have I got this right ?
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- Posts: 958
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
- Job Title: Lab Technician
- School: FCAC
- State/Location: QLD
Re: updating SDS's
Thanks Labbie and Anna.
I think I'll do that then .
Otherwise I guess I'd be printing SDS's for every Molarity of every chemical we had in the store
I think I'll do that then .
Otherwise I guess I'd be printing SDS's for every Molarity of every chemical we had in the store
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- Posts: 1566
- Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
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- School: Wollondilly Anglican College
- Suburb: Tahmoor
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Re: updating SDS's
Keep the SDSs for the ones you have purchased.
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Re: updating SDS's
Hi all,
I am currently updating all the SDS's I have here and wanted to confirm whether or not I have to provide an SDS for solutions I have prepared (i.e. 1M HCl or 0.1M Sodium Hydroxide).
I have SDS's for all chemicals bought in (i.e. solids, concentrate solutions/highest molarity I have of said solution), and am under the impression that as long as I have those, I don't need to provide an SDS for lower strength solutions or solutions made up from a solid.
Am I correct?
I am currently updating all the SDS's I have here and wanted to confirm whether or not I have to provide an SDS for solutions I have prepared (i.e. 1M HCl or 0.1M Sodium Hydroxide).
I have SDS's for all chemicals bought in (i.e. solids, concentrate solutions/highest molarity I have of said solution), and am under the impression that as long as I have those, I don't need to provide an SDS for lower strength solutions or solutions made up from a solid.
Am I correct?
Regards, Labbie Seth
Lab Tech NSW Sydney
Lab Tech NSW Sydney
- Labbie
- Posts: 3281
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Re: updating SDS's
NSW DoE NO not too sure of other schools or states
Regards Labbie
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
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- Posts: 24
- Joined: 08 Nov 2023, 10:53
- Job Title: Laboratory Technician
- School: GPHS
- State/Location: NSW
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- Posts: 958
- Joined: 15 Dec 2015, 10:49
- Job Title: Lab Technician
- School: FCAC
- State/Location: QLD
Re: updating SDS's
It's a good thing too .Saves you having to stuff around with Chemwatch sifting through countless conflicting SDSs .
Before I had Risk assess , I would have to do that just to find a suitable GHS label to put on my solutions .
Before I had Risk assess , I would have to do that just to find a suitable GHS label to put on my solutions .
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- Posts: 24
- Joined: 08 Nov 2023, 10:53
- Job Title: Laboratory Technician
- School: GPHS
- State/Location: NSW
Re: updating SDS's
I personally am not a fan of chemwatch. I've created my own manifest on a different format and often go straight to the suppliers website for SDS's. Only time I use chemwatch is when I'm doing bulk SDS's like I am currently.
Regards, Labbie Seth
Lab Tech NSW Sydney
Lab Tech NSW Sydney
- Anna Z
- Posts: 296
- Joined: 16 Feb 2021, 14:39
- Job Title: Lab Manager
- School: DET Secondary School
- State/Location: VIC
Re: updating SDS's
We only use Chemwatch for the mini SDS's that we chuck out in the classroom. Registers and full SDS's elsewhere.