Technical Translation of MSDSs

A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a document designed to provide employees with the necessary information to safely use a chemical or mixture The document also contains information regarding emergency procedures and possible hazards of the product as well as how to use, store and handle it. The intent of a MSDS is to communicate how to safely use the product, how to handle an accident should it occur, and how to recognize signs of overexposure.

Technical translation is the process of translating a technical document, such as a safety data sheet or a workplace label, from one language into another. By using technical translation services instead of a dictionary translation, you can ensure that the proper terms and correct connotations are being used in the document. Technical translation services are very useful in the European Union because of the vast number of languages being used. If an industrial product is to be used in more than one member state, the safety data sheet must be available in each state in the official language of that country. Using technical translation services for your documents will guarantee that each employee in contact with the document will be able to interpret the information accurately in a time of need.

When translating technical documents such as a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) note that straight translations may lead to a non-compliant document. MSDSs need to be authored to be compliant of the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is to be used, so often direct translations are infeasible. For example, you cannot simply take a U.S. compliant MSDS and translate it into Danish and have a document which is compliant in Denmark. Sometime, rather than translating your company’s MSDS, it is prudent to take the existing document and author a new set of MSDSs that is compliant in the necessary jurisdictions and in the necessary languages. It is also important to note that using a machine translation program is not an appropriate to translate documents of this nature. Errors in translating labels, instruction, or safety precautions could lead to regulatory, product or civil liability. In addition, an incorrect translation could be misinterpreted, leading to a possible misuse of the product and physical or property damage.

What does CCCR stand for?

CCCR stands for the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations. The most current edition is from 2001. The CCCR, 2001 is the law governing consumer chemical products in Canada. This regulation does not apply to products that will be used solely in a workplace setting. The regulations set out five types of hazards that can apply to a consumer product: toxic, corrosive, flammable, quick skin-bonding adhesive and pressurized containers. Throughout the document, each type of hazard is described in detail, stating what criteria a product must fulfill in order to be classified as a specific hazard, and what statements must be disclosed on the label. Toxicity, corrosivity and flammability are divided into subcategories depending on the severity of the hazard and each hazard level has specific warning statements that must be enclosed on the label.

Each label must have all of the CCCR requirements on it, in both English and French, to be compliant. These include the appropriate hazard symbol(s), signal word, primary hazard statement, specific hazard statement(s), negative instructions, positive instructions and first aid statements. The regulations also set out specific size requirements and colour contrasts to apply to the label in question.

The regulations apply to all consumer products except those listed below, as these products are governed by other Canadian legislation and are not subject to the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations:
Cosmetics
Drugs
Explosives
Food
Medical devices
Nuclear substances
Pest control products
Tobacco products

What products are exempt from MSDS requirements?

Material safety data sheet (MSDS) requirements apply only to chemicals and mixtures that will be used in industrial or institutional settings. Therefore, all consumer products that will be available for use solely by consumers are exempt from MSDSs. If a product is for sale to consumers but also is used in a workplace setting, an MSDS still needs to be created for that product.

In Canada, material safety data sheets are regulated by two legislating documents: the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) and the Controlled Products Regulation (CPR). Certain products are exempt from requiring an MSDS sheet because they are controlled by other regulations. Explosives are exempt from the HPA and CPR because they are governed by the Explosives Act. Drug, food and cosmetics are also exempt because they are included under the Food and Drugs Act. Likewise, pest control products and nuclear substances are also exempt because they are regulated under other acts. Finally, tobacco products are also exempt from MSDS requirements.

In the United States, the two governing documents that apply to MSDS requirements are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some examples of products that are exempt from these MSDS requirements include articles, food and alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, drugs, hazardous wastes, tobacco and its products, and wood and lumber.

There are other products that are sometimes exempt from MSDS requirements, depending on the form that the product is in. In some cases, even though the product may seem to be exempt, an MSDS sheet is required. Therefore, it is best practice to consult with a professional organization when determining whether or not you require an MSDS sheet for your chemical product.

Need of Canadian Consumer Label Review Service

Canadian Consumer Label Review (CCCR) can be both complicated and time consuming. There are many regulations associated with the CCCR 2001 issued under the Hazardous Products Act. It is best to consult an organization that has the expertise with these rules and regulations to ensure the products are correctly classified and products will not be recalled due to improper classification, packaging and/or labeling.

There are services available to help organizations stay compliant with the ever changing consumer labeling regulations. Consulting services provide companies with expert interpretations, guidance and compliance with the GHS guidelines. Typically companies out pursuit GHS services to save time, save money and increase efficiency.

The person who classifies the product is responsible for the CCCR. So if the CCCR is not outsourced to a company of experts and the importer/distributor or manufacture of a consumer product decides to complete the CCCR in-house they will be obligated to assess and correctly classify, package and label the product (as per Parts 1 to 5 of the CCCR-2001). It is not the retailersresponsibility to ensure the product is packaged correctly. The person responsible for classifying the product is also responsible for providing the necessary information to a government inspector should there be a packaging concern or a product audit.

What Is The Purpose Of A MSDS?

A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a document available in the workplace that applies to each hazardous chemical that may be used by employees. The general purpose of a MSDS is to provide the necessary information for the safe usage of chemicals in the workplace. Each MSDS provides information about a certain substance in terms of general use; it is still important that employers teach their workers about hazards in certain situations that may arise.

In order to fulfill its purpose, an MSDS contains five details that are helpful to create a safer workplace. First, a MSDS states the identification of the substance. This could include the name and use of the product, as well as what hazardous ingredients are part of its composition. Second, an MSDS sheet describes first-aid information regarding signs, symptoms and treatment that will assist in an emergency. An MSDS sheet also lists the full mailing and shipping address of the manufacturer along with a contact phone number and emergency number if needed. This can prove helpful when you require more information on a product than what is listed on the MSDS. Fire information, including personal protective equipment for firefighters, flammability data on the product, and what suitable extinguishing agents should be used, is very important information to know when in a situation where a fire may be started. Finally, an MSDS sheet provides details on handling and storage to ensure that workers are using and storing the chemical in the safest possible way.

What Are The GHS Label Requirements?

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a universal system to regulate the transfer of information regarding chemicals across international borders. Once in place, the GHS should create a system where people from all jurisdictions can read and understand the documents pertaining to a certain chemical or mixture.

One component of the GHS setup is the labeling of chemicals. The GHS has outlined specific requirements that must be followed in terms of creating a label for a chemical product. There are nine elements that must be included on all GHS labels. In this order, the following elements must be included:

• Product name or identifier
• Hazard symbol
• Signal word
• Physical, health and environmental hazard statements
• Supplemental information
• Precautionary measures and pictograms
• First aid statements
• Name and address of company
• Telephone number

Supplemental information can also be included on the label if the supplier would like to include additional information related to the hazard, such as physical state or routes of exposure. This information is non-harmonized information that is not required under the (GHS. In some cases, this information may be required by an additional authoritative agency, or it may just be added at the request of the manufacturer. The GHS allows for supplemental information to provide further detail, as long as it does not contradict or cast doubt on the validity of the required hazardous information.

MSDS Sheet – Find at Nexreg

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document designed to provide workers, employers and emergency personnel with the appropriate information needed to handle and work with the chemical. MSDSs describe a wide range of information, from physical data such as the melting point and flash point to health effects, such as toxicity, reactivity and first aid symptoms and treatments. They also provide information on spills and leaks procedures and firefighting methods to ensure the safest situation possible under such extremes.

Currently, the global requirement is that a MSDS must be completed for all hazardous chemicals. The MSDS should be distributed and available during the production, use, storage, testing, transportation, and destruction of these chemicals.

The Nexreg team of experts possesses a comprehensive knowledge of regulatory requirements and extensive experience in MSDS authoring for a number of jurisdictions. Nexreg stays current by retaining a dedicated regulatory research department to stay ahead of new regulations before they get passed into law.

Nexreg MSDS authoring services include:

1. E.U. SDS authoring, fully compliant in the European Union
2. NAFTA MSDS authoring, fully compliant in the United States., Canada and Mexico
3. OSHA/WHMIS MSDS authoring, fully compliant in the United States and Canada
4. OSHA MSDS authoring, fully compliant in the United States
5. WHMIS MSDS authoring, fully compliant in Canada
6. GHS Compliance
7. REACH Compliance

What Is The WHMIS Classification Checklist?

The WHMIS Classification Checklist is an essential tool when determining the WHMIS classification of a chemical/substance that will be used in the workplace. The checklist is divided into six sections based on the six WHMIS classes (Compressed Gas, Flammable/Combustible Material, Oxidizing Material, Poisonous and Infectious Material, Corrosive Material and Dangerously Reactive Material). Some of these sections are further divided into specific classes (such as D1A or D1B and D2A or D2B).

Each of these sections has detailed requirements that a chemical must meet in order to fall under that classification. For example, Class E (Corrosive Material) has 4 requirements: pH less than 2.0 or greater than 11.5, causes irreversible damage/necrosis of skin tissue, corrodes SAE 1020 steel or aluminum type 7075-T6, and TDG class 8 (or 2.4 for a gas). If a chemical falls into at least one of these categories it would be classified as corrosive under WHMIS.

When determining a classification for a product that will be used or sold in a Canadian workplace, one would go through each section on the checklist and determine what requirements that chemical meets. Once the checklist is completed, the WHMIS classification can be obtained by reviewing what conditions were met under the six classes.

MSDS Services Available at Nexreg

Nexreg Compliance offers the following MSDS Services: authoring, reformatting and translation.

MSDS Authoring:

The Nexreg team of experts possesses a comprehensive knowledge of regulatory requirements and extensive experience in MSDS authoring for a number of jurisdictions. Nexreg stays current by retaining a dedicated regulatory research department to stay ahead of new regulations before they get passed into law.

Nexreg MSDS authoring services include:

• E.U. SDS authoring, fully compliant in the European Union
• NAFTA MSDS authoring, fully compliant in the United States., Canada and Mexico
• OSHA/WHMIS MSDS authoring, fully compliant in the United States and Canada
• OSHA MSDS authoring, fully compliant in the United States
• WHMIS MSDS authoring, fully compliant in Canada
• GHS Compliance
• REACH Compliance

MSDS Reformatting:
MSDS reformatting is the process of taking an MSDS that is compliant in one jurisdiction, such as the United States, and re-authoring it so it is compliant in another, such as Canada.

MSDS Translation:
Nexreg Compliance can translate MSDSs to over 50 languages. However, Nexreg recommends to its clients that in almost all cases it MSDS translation is not advisable as it leads to non-compliant documents and is also often not cost-effective. MSDSs need to be authored to be compliant of the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is to be used, so often direct translations are infeasible. For example, you cannot simply take a U.S. compliant MSDS and translate it into Danish and have a document which is compliant in Denmark. Rather than translating your company’s SDS or MSDS, Nexreg can take the existing document and author a new set of SDSs or MSDSs that is compliant in the necessary jurisdictions and in the necessary languages.

What is MSDS translation?

An MSDS translation is basically translating an MSDS for a chemical product from one language into another. In Canada, under WHMIS regulations, all MSDSs must be available in both English and French so any MSDS that is authored for your product that will be used in Canada must be in both languages.

If the MSDS is going to be used in only one jurisdiction and more than only language is required, an MSDS translation would be most appropriate. It is recommended that when your company has a MSDS that needs translating, you consult with a regulatory business to assist you. Some statements listed on an MSDS are very specific to that product and a regulatory company can ensure that these statements are being translated correctly.

In some situations, a simple translation is not appropriate. If you have a WHMIS MSDS that you want to begin using in France, your French version may not be compliant. France regulations may have different requirements that WHMIS and the current MSDS would not fulfill. This is also where a regulatory consultation can be beneficial. Rather than simply translating the MSDS, a regulatory consultant can author a new MSDS that is compliant with all necessary regulations in the new jurisdiction. This new MSDS would be authored in the correct language and there would be no loss of information due to translation.