September - Harley Marine Services, Inc.

Harley Marine Services
Safe, Responsible, Reliable, Efficient
September 2012
Safety Data Sheets
By: Jim Flies
Harley Marine Services is pursuing the
Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)
certification 18001. The American Bureau of
Shipping (ABS) will issue a ‘Health’ certification;
they are one in the same. This certification
emphasizes hazard identification and hazard
prevention. The most basic, elementary defense
against chemical hazards is the Safety Data Sheet
(SDS). The SDS formerly known as Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) is changing to a 16
section, universal or international format.
Manufactures were given until June 1, 2015 to
adopt the new format. From now on, Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) will be referred to as
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). The new standard
format will make critical information easier to
locate and use, benefiting all of us. For example:
First Aid will always be found in section 4.
the SDS folder. Shore-side employees may
access the vessels tab on the portal for an
alphabetic list of chemicals or products. If you
do not have access it is incumbent upon you to
find someone close to you that does have access.
The SDSs explains what first aid measures to
take in case of a chemical exposure, ingestion or
inhalation.
Having access to SDSs is an OSHA requirement.
Harley Marine included knowing how to access
and read an SDS on the Quality Systems
Objectives and Targets for both shore-side and
vessels. Shore-side trainings will be announced
soon. Vessel personnel should contact a local
Safety Manager or any member of HSQE for
information.
Harley Marine keeps all SDSs on the Vessel
Communication Center (VCC). All
crewmembers must know how to find and access
the SDSs on the Vessel Communication Center.
Shore-side employees are no different. Every
shore-side employee must know how to access
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