Have You Ever Wondered What a MSDS Is?

Basic information about material safety data sheets, or MSDS for short.

How Material Safety Data Sheets Are Used

The acronym MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet. OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as state and local agencies govern the administration of material safety data sheets. MSDS sheets provide information about chemical hazards encountered in the workplace.

What are MSDS business management purposes? The information included in a Material Safety Data Sheet helps an organization's management team provide proper safety equipment for workers. Businesses are required to provide workers with access to MSDS when asked by workers.

What exactly are MSDS worker uses? Workers can read a MSDS to find out what dangers they face when handling hazardous materials. Knowing the dangers tells workers what personal protective equipment is needed to perform jobs safely. Reading a material safety data sheet also gives workers the opportunity to respond effectively in the event of a chemical spill of fire.

What are the transportation uses of a MSDS? A carrier has the responsibility to safely deliver materials to their destinations. Material Safety Data Sheets provide information for the carrier about safe handling of hazardous materials.

How do safety forces use a MSDS? In the event of a serious injury or chemical spill, safety workers are able to learn about any special treatments needed by victims exposed to the material. Information about the flash point of the chemicals involved also lets them know what they are dealing with in regards to potential explosions or inhalant dangers.

What are the government purposes of a MSDS? Government offices - the EPA for example - refer to the MSDS to get information about the proper way to clean up chemical spills and potential environmental damage. OSHA inspectors would also need to confirm that workers exposed to hazardous materials are wearing personal protective equipment based on a MSDS.

What manufacturer contact information is included on a MSDS? If the manufacturer has an emergency hot-line it will be listed on the MSDS along with their general contact information. This allows them to offer immediate response to a problem a worker experiences with their product.

MSDS References:
Hazard Communication: Foundation of Workplace Safety Programs
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheets
MSDS FAQ - Regulations

June 2014

I have been SO lazy about updating this site...


Sorry, dear readers, for the lack of activity here. If you follow the Frack Facts facebook page, you'll see there was a bit of activity there recently, mainly from folk in other countries as they become aware of the fracking debate and its spread across their lands.


Check back for updates, as there are a few links and data I plan to share here.

Supreme Court Support of Municipalities' Rights in Fracking Bans

Last month, a Pennsylvania real-life legal drama about the rights of municipalities to keep fracking out of their communities ended with a  supreme court ruling in favor of... the municipalities.


This was obviously a source of relief for fractivists and not such a good thing for hydraulic fracturing drilling (gas and oil) companies.


The debate - and the fighting - about these fracking bans is sure to go on, with business advocates asking for more leeway and environmentalists asking for more protection.


You can read more about the debate in the following Mansfield News Journal article about the supreme court decision and its possible effect on Ohio fracking, but note that the newspaper only allows a limited number of views per reader without a paid subscription.

Rocking in Ohio: What Does Disney Mean to You?

For those, of us who grew up watching Mickey Mouse's antics, and sleeping beauty fall in love with Prince Charming, the name Disney means wholesome entertainment.


So, when many parent's hear radio Disney is presenting a shoe called Rocking in Ohio - the connection to the name Disney means no alarm bells go off in our heads.


After failing to quell the curiosity and satisfactorily answer the questions presented by fractivists about the safety of fracking, the gas and oil industry has moved on to attempt to influence the view on fracking in the next generation of citizens, the children - via a partnership with radio Disney called Rocking in Ohio.


Rocking in Ohio is a traveling musical show - presented game show style - to encourage active participation in youth and families - funded completely by the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP).


This alliance of entertainment and a hot button political and environmental issue raises questions in my mind.

• If fracking is as harmless as claimed, why can't the gas and oil companies prove it? Fractivists find lots and lots of examples of times it is unsafe.
• Why do the gas and oil companies have to throw big money into influencing children with fun music and gifts?
• Do gas and oil companies really think fractivists don't teach their children to think for themselves?
• What does Disney really stand for now? It used to be wholesome entertainment, but what is it now? Making money from any industry willing to shell out big bucks - no matter how beleaguered the industry is with questions about its lack of safety?

So, tell me, if you want, what does Disney mean to you and what do you think of the an industry that tries to use children as pawns in the fracking debate?

Ohio Frac Map

This short post is just to provide a link to the most recently published (September 2013) Ohio fracking map.

The dots on the map represent wells and sites where well permits have been granted.

You can put your cursor over the color-coded well dots to get more information about each well.

The name of the site hosting this information map is Innovation Ohio, and you can view the map by simply clicking the link if interested in learning more about frac wells in your community or that have been approved to come into your community.

Happy New Year From Ohio, Frac, and the Environment!

Well, if you're reading this, you made it through 2013 with us.

Ohio, Frac, and the Environment would like to wish you a healthy and prosperous 2014!

May the coming year be filled with blessings, peace, and joy for you and yours!

Check back often, sign up for email updates, or follow our RSS feed for updates as we have a lot of great information and changes coming for 2014.

and... once again... Happy New Year!

Fracking Boom Jobs Did Not Materialize and Underperformance Likely to Continue

(Sarcasm Alert!)

So, here's a big shock... They did a fracking boom study, including "state employment data, academic research and a week-long tour of half a dozen factories in Ohio" and guess what... the job results were lower than expected - as in - the explosion of jobs they told us would happen if Ohio allowed fracking - never happened and is not likely to. 

Feel free to check out the source article by clicking the link above if you would like more details, or share your thoughts in the comments section below or in our bulletin board forums.