Under the Hazard Communication Standard promulgated by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1983, chemical manufacturers and importers
are required to distribute these forms with the initial shipment of a hazardous
chemical to a given employer. The forms must describe the chemical's
properties, identify potential hazards, and provide safe use and handling
procedures. Employers must maintain a file, accessible to employees, of MSDSs
for all chemicals they use in their business.