Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Emergency Response Guides (ERG) -- updated 9/27/2023

Note (9/22/2011):OCS formerly made available various MSDSs that were in support of its now discontinued OCSResponds™ emergency response service. Since that service has been discontinued, those OCS MSDSs are no longer valid and are no longer available. The only SDSs that OCS makes available on this website are those applicable to products manufactured by Owen Oil Tools LP and those SDSs are listed in the table shown below.  SDSs for products that are not manufactured by Owen Oil Tools should be directed to the appropriate manufacturer and not to OCS or Owen Oil Tools.

Formerly known as material safety data sheets (MSDS), the following SDS are now available, in GHS format, for explosives products manufactured by Owen Oil Tools. OCS MSDSs related to its terminated OCSResponds™ call-in service are no longer available. Also available here are ERG for explosives products distributed by Owen Oil Tools.

In the SDS table, we've included columns indicating status: 1) as a chemical or an article, 2) as an explosive, 3) subject to OSHA HAZCOM, and 4) subject to WHMIS HAZCOM. See also Periodicity of SDS.

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PERIODICITY OF SDS -- updated 6/3/2011
(When will these SDS be updated?   How does Canada's WHMIS apply?)

We often get comments that these SDS are expiring or have expired and inquiries regarding when will they be updated.  Please consider the following:

• US OSHA's hazard communication regulations (29 CFR 1910.1200) apply to chemicals; they do not apply to articles (29 CFR 1910.1200(b)(6)(v)).  Therefore, most of the SDS provided above are not required by US OSHA and are provided as a convenience only.  Although OSHA has not formally adopted the GHS system, a final rule is expected in 2011.  We are already in the process of converting the old MSDS to GHS-compliant SDS format.

• US OSHA does not have a specific review period requirement.  Instead, in 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(5), OSHA requires that MSDSs be updated within 3 months of becoming newly aware of any significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical, or ways to protect against the hazards.  SDS prepared under US OSHA guidelines do not have expiration dates and do not expire based solely upon the age of the SDS.  It is expected that this will change when OSHA fully implements the GHS system; therefore, OOT SDS will expire and will be updated once every 3 years.  Expiration dates of OOT SDS are shown in the SDS table.

• Canada's Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) requires that SDSs be updated every 3 years.

• Section 12 of Canada's Hazardous Products Act (HPA) excludes certain product categories from the federal WHMIS requirement to apply a supplier label and to transmit a SDS.  These categories are: food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, pesticides, explosives, radioactive materials (except controlled product carrier materials in radionuclide mixtures), consumer "restricted" products, wood and products made of wood, tobacco and products made of tobacco, manufactured articles, and hazardous waste.    Therefore, most of the SDS provided above are not required by Canada's WHMIS and are provided as a convenience only.  For more on this, please refer to: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/occup-travail/whmis-simdut/faq-eng.php#class1  (see the FAQ "How does a supplier know if a product is a WHMIS "controlled product?).

Conclusions

• US OSHA does not apply to articles

• US OSHA does not establish expiration dates for SDS

• WHMIS does not apply to explosives and/or manufactured articles

• In anticipation of OSHA implementation of GHS recommendations, SDS listed in the table on this page for explosives and/or manufactured articles will expire and be replaced every 3 years.

Other Resources:

• For more information on WHMIS, please see one of the following:

  • http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/occup-travail/whmis-simdut/index-eng.php/ 

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHMIS  

• OSHA Laws, Regulations and Interpretations:  http://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html  

• OSHA HAZCOM FAQs:  http://www.osha.gov/html/faq-hazcom.html 

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Marking and Labeling of Packages
Containing Cylinders of Bromine Trifluoride (BrF₃)
(chemical cutter cylinders)

On October 1, 1998, new rules (HM-206) go into effect that will change the labeling of packages containing bromine trifluoride. Previously, one of the subsidiary labels required was the Poison 6 label (below, left). With implementation of HM-206, for poisons that are also inhalation hazards, such as bromine trifluoride, that label is being replaced with a new Inhalation Hazard label (below, right).

Subsidiary risk label for bromine trifluoride (use until 10/1/99)

Subsidiary risk label for bromine trifluoride (use on/after 10/1/99, voluntary use authorized now)

The example below illustrates proper labeling and marking of packages containing bromine trifluoride.

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Transport Vehicle Placarding Requirements
for Shipments of Bromine Trifluoride (BrF₃)
(chemical cutter cylinders)

Best viewed at 800x600 or higher resolution

Shipping Combinations	Placards Required
BrF3 only
BrF3 + 1.41
BrF3 + 4.1
BrF3 + 1.41 + 4.1