Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Regarding MSDS

By Gwyneth Gorlich


Making sure that your facility's janitorial closet is neatly organized is key to having the cleanest possible office. Particularly in high-traffic facilities, such as hospitals and large office buildings, it is important for your maintenance staff to have a strict cleaning regimen. This schedule is easiest to follow when the janitorial closet is arranged logically. This allows your maintenance team members to locate the products they need without wasting valuable time.

Many companies become preoccupied with the appearance of their public areas and neglect the maintenance closet. This can lead to spillage of dangerous chemicals and other accidents that could put workers in harm's way. It is crucial for businesses to pay attention to the condition of their maintenance closet. One of the most often overlooked factors when it comes to janitorial closets is the size of the space. There should be plenty of space for all products and equipment that your maintenance staff needs. Additionally, your maintenance workers should be able to freely move around the closet without colliding with any sort of equipment.

In any office's maintenance closet, material safety data sheets (MSDS) are the most crucial items. You should keep one of these documents on-hand for every cleaning product that is ever utilized in your building. These sheets explain, amongst other things, the proper use of a chemical, what should be done if an emergency occurs while using it, and any hazardous components contained within the product.

Your janitorial staff should be required to read these sheets thoroughly and should memorize the information about products they use frequently. Also, every MSDS should provide the proper disposal steps for a given product. If any of the chemical products used within your building have special disposal steps, you should make sure your maintenance crew is trained in the correct procedure.

You should apply the information provided in MSDS to make certain that your office's maintenance closet is a well-arranged as possible. For instance, some chemicals must be stored at particular temperatures so they do not combust, explode, or lose effectiveness. This information should be clearly written in all products' MSDS; it can then aid you as you organize. If you have many products that need to be stored at a cold temperature, for example, you may need to invest in a refrigerator for the maintenance closet.

It is also crucial for your maintenance closet to be equipped with a first-aid kit and a phone that can be used if an emergency situation arises. All MSDS will list a 24-hour emergency phone number that your employees can call if they have an accident with a particular chemical. You should consider writing down the phone numbers listed on particularly hazardous chemicals' MSDS and displaying them next to the phone.




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