Help for the OHS MSDS Management Software

The OHS MSDS Management Software allows you to search multiple MSDS databases using a variety of search options. Your webmaster configured the OHS MSDS Management Software for your organization's particular environment, MSDS databases, and local languages.

Because of all the possible variations, some capabilities that are available with OHS MSDS documents might not be available when you search or display a non-OHS MSDS. However, the software will not alter or remove any information in a non-OHS MSDS.

Click an item for more information:

• To select a language
• To conduct a basic search
• To conduct an advanced search
• To understand the search results
• To select the type of document to display
• To select an MSDS section to display

To select a language

If your organization offers the software interface in more than one language, your webmaster can customize a start-up page that allows you to choose the language you know best. If your organization offers the software interface in only one language, the search page will be your default start-up page.

From the language start-up page, select a language for the software interface. The language start-up page shows only those languages that are available at your site.

To conduct a basic search

From the Basic Search page, you can search for an MSDS using a partial or a full chemical name, the CAS number, or one of three optional MSDS fields, which are predetermined by your webmaster.

Click a search option for a definition and instructions:

• Search by the partial chemical name
• Search by the exact chemical name
• Search by the CAS number
• Search by an optional field

Search by the partial chemical name

A partial chemical name search performs a search on the chemical names, trade names, and synonyms in the selected databases. The software returns all chemicals that include the criteria you enter.

The synonyms listed in the OHS MSDS documents can include identifiers for a chemical. You can search for chemicals by these identifiers or by the actual chemical name. The following examples show the format to use to search by identifier:

To search by the partial chemical name:

1. Select the Partial Chemical Name button.
2. Type any part of the chemical name or the identifier.
3. Click the Search button. The Search Results page displays the results.

The Search Results page includes all OHS MSDS documents and non-OHS MSDS documents that match the search criteria.

Search by the exact chemical name

An exact chemical name search queries chemical names, trade names, and synonyms in the OHS MSDS documents to find the exact match to the criteria you enter.

The synonyms listed in the OHS MSDS documents can include identifiers for a chemical. You can search for chemicals by these identifiers or by the actual chemical name. The following examples show the format to use to search by identifier:

To search by the exact chemical name:

1. Select the Exact Chemical Name button.
2. Type the full chemical name, trade name, synonym, or identifier for the chemical.
3. Click the Search button. The Search Results page displays the results.

The Search Results page includes all OHS MSDS documents and non-OHS MSDS documents that match the search criteria.

Search by the CAS number

A CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) number search finds MSDS documents that match the exact CAS number for the chemical.

To search by the CAS number:

1. Select the CAS Number button.
2. Type the exact CAS number for the chemical, including the hyphens (example: 13586-84-0).
3. Click the Search button. The Search Results page displays the results.

Search by an optional field

Your webmaster can include up to three additional search fields on the Basic Search page. The software searches for chemicals based on the criteria you enter in that field only.

To search on an optional field:

1. Select the optional field button.
2. Type the exact criteria for the search.
3. Click the Search button. The Search Results page displays the results.

To conduct an advanced search

Note: From the Basic Search page, click the Advanced Search button to go to the Advanced Search page. If you do not see the Advanced Search button, this option is not available at your site.

The Advanced Search page allows you to search on any MSDS field. In addition, you have the option to refine your search by using a second MSDS field and an AND or OR operator.

Searches that use the AND operator return only those MSDS documents that meet the criteria that is specified in both fields. Searches that use the OR operator return those MSDS documents that meet the criteria that is specified in one or both fields.

For example, if you select the CAS Number field as the primary search field and enter '67-64-1', then select the Vendor field as the secondary search field and enter 'Sigma Aldrich', then select the search operator AND, the Search Results page will list only those MSDS documents where the CAS number is 67-64-1 and the vendor is Sigma Aldrich.

All advanced searches are partial searches. For example, if you enter '6764' for a CAS number, a resulting match is '67-64-1.' If you enter 'Ace' for a substance name, a resulting match is Acetone.

To conduct an advanced search:

1. Select the primary search field from the first drop-down list.
2. Type a partial or full entry for the primary search field.
3. To refine your search, select a secondary search field from the second drop-down list. (This step is optional.)
4. If you selected a secondary search field, type a partial or full entry for the secondary search field.
5. If you selected a secondary search field, select the AND or OR operator from the drop-down list.
6. Your webmaster determines the default databases to be searched. Deselect databases or select additional databases to be included in the search. Click on [All Databases] to search all the available databases.
7. Click the Search button. The Search Results page displays the results.

To understand the search results

The search results list alphabetizes the chemical names, trade names, or synonyms of the chemicals that match your query. In some cases your search may find duplicate names, which will be included in the list. The fields provided in the search results list and the order in which the columns appear are determined by your webmaster. However, the chemical name field is always displayed.

To select a chemical in the search results list:

Click on the chemical name. Depending on how your webmaster configured the software, you will see the Document Selection page or the first page of the MSDS.

To return to an empty search page from the search results list:

Click on the graphic in the upper right corner of the Search Results page.

To select the type of document to display

From the Document Selection page, you can display the entire MSDS or a Summary Sheet. You can also jump to one of the 16 MSDS sections.

A Summary Sheet is an optional product from MDL that contains answers to the most commonly asked questions about the chemical, written in non-technical terms.

Your webmaster can configure the Document Selection page to reflect the format options licensed by your organization and to default to a particular type of document at your site.

To select the type of document to display:

Choose the Full MSDS Document, the Summary Sheet, or one of the 16 MSDS sections.

Note: If the MSDS does not have a Summary Sheet, the Summary Sheet button is not displayed.

To return to an empty search page from the Document Selection page:

Click on the graphic in the upper right corner of the Document Selection page.

To select an MSDS section to display

From within an MSDS, you can jump to any other MSDS section header.

To select an MSDS section to display:

1. Click on any section header to display the Document Selection page.
2. Select one of the 16 standard section headers to jump to that section.

Note: This option is available only for OHS MSDS documents.