Hi Kylie,

We use ChemWatch and are reasonably happy with it. We still have some ‘non ChemWatch’ MSDS’s as due to the nature of our work not everything we use is in the ChemWatch database.

I can’t comment on OHSA, but for us in Victoria, Australia readily accessible (i.e. lab computer, adjoining office computer) electronic versions are acceptable. We also have a requirement that we have the manufacturers MSDS. In an early audit, when we had paper MSDS’s in parallel to ChemWatch, the inspector pulled out a bottle of chloroform and asked for the MSDS. Lab staff showed him MSDS from Sigma-Aldrich, inspector said ‘ This is from Merck’. Lucky I had my laptop with ChemWatch and called it up! Also it has most MSDS’s for sink cleaner, hand soap etc. which, if in a lab, we are required to have an MSDS for.

 

We also find the ChemWatch ‘gold’ MSDS’s (sort of like a review of MSDS’s) very useful for doing risk assessments. You can also make labels (with appropriate symbols), and the ‘mini MSDS’ feature means you can print out MSDS information in many languages as a single page. Very useful for researchers whose first language is not English. Also can generate a manifest, but someone needs to input what is where.

 

Contact me if you need any specific details if I can help.

 

Cheers, Paul

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion ListOn Behalf OfStrode, Kyle
Sent: Friday, 24 May 2013 4:34:40 AM (UTC+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] (M)SDS access