It’s been 8 years since we have been using the Globally Harmonized System for our Hazardous Communications. This much-needed update to OSHA’s HAZCOM standard was intended to correct many bad practices and to “harmonize” the USA with the rest of the world. One of the big drivers for this change was the need to formalize the MSDS/SDS into the 16-section format and to end all of the silliness we saw for decades. But the silliness still lives on in our litigious society. For example, I have been using a Grade D Breathing Air SDS(s) in my training courses for over 27 years – YES, there is in fact an SDS for Grade D Breathing Air. Just do a Google search and you can find as many as you’d like. But here are some of my favorite phrases from these Grade D breathing air MSDS/SDS over the years:
NOTE: Compressed air and Grade D Breathing air are a hazard because they are a pressurized gas – the gas is BREATHING AIR so the gas is ONLY a hazard because of the pressure – not the contents of the gas!