Material Safety Data Sheet; a document containing information about the properties and hazards of chemical substances and instructions for safe handling.
Acronym formed in 1970s from 'Material Safety Data Sheet'. Developed as part of workplace safety regulations requiring standardized hazard communication. Now largely replaced by SDS (Safety Data Sheet) under global harmonization standards.
MSDS represents a fascinating evolution in industrial communication - before these sheets, chemical hazards were often trade secrets! The standardization of safety information democratized workplace knowledge, though the recent shift to 'SDS' reflects global efforts to harmonize safety language across borders.
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