Hi Tanya,

What an interesting question! The US (OSHA) requires an SDS to be kept for 30 years as part of the employees exposure records.
Could we then say under HSWA General Risk and Workplace Management Regs - s32 Duties relating to exposure monitoring - that the same thing applies to NZ as records must be kept for 30 years, and measurement and evaluation of exposure to a health hazard would include the data from an SDS??

I know for us, this would be a paperwork (electronic or otherwise) nightmare, but it's got me thinking.

Also, if using condensed versions, WorkSafe suggest what data should be contained in them (in their SDS - Quick Guide).

@Dianne Campton I had been using the example of mobile phones on forecourts in a discussion with our staff around HazSub, when a worker pointed me to Z's website that states they had conducted an independent risk assessment and the "findings showed mobile phones as an ignition source poses no risk to our customers" while refueling. The same worker reminded me that at several stations you can use your phone to pay also. Z's reasoning is that mobile phones now have batteries that are more efficient and fully enclosed, and phones are manufactured to be dust and water resistant. Makes for an interesting read.