Chemical Safety

Safety First, Always

Environment, Health and Safety

Intended Use

The products supplied by Hoffman Fine Chemicals are intended to be used for laboratory purposes. They cannot be used to produce pharmaceuticals, quasi drugs, cosmetics, agricultural chemicals, insecticides or food additives. Under no circumstance are they intended for use in the home nor for animals. When improper use is suspected, Hoffman Fine Chemicals reserves the right to refuse to supply any product, as is also dictated by law, and takes no responsibility for any improper use.

Our products may contain items regulated by local laws; for example TSCA (the Toxic Substances Control Act) or the New Chemical Substance law. Please contact your local Hoffman Fine Chemicals office or distributor, or your local regulatory office, for more details.

When controlled substances are sold or purchased for testing and experimental purposes, details of the buyer’s appropriate licence or qualification, or a predetermined procedure based on the related regulations, may be required.

Hoffman Fine Chemicals does not guarantee that a new chemical substance manufactured by using our products, or that using our products in combination with other products, or using them in certain procedures does not infringe on any patents of Australia or foreign countries. It is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure that no patents are infringed.

Environment, Health and Safety

General Safety Handling Considerations

Our products are labelled, and our Safety Data Sheets (SDS) created, using available information. Since in some cases comprehensive data is not available, and because new data is constantly found, the known hazardous indications may not be exhaustive. Even if there is no concrete description of hazard on a products label, SDS, or in references, one should not assume that it is safe to handle. This is particularly true in the case of new products, which have only be made on a very small scale and therefore whose properties have not been fully investigated.

Hazardous products must be handled carefully, using appropriate measures at all times. To prevent possible accidents, we believe it is important to treat all products as potentially hazardous, and to follow precautionary procedures:

  • Always read the description on the product label on receipt and check that it is as expected.
  • Use preventive measures to avoid dropping containers or spilling chemicals.
  • Read the description on the label before use, and put any required safety measures into practice. If the description mentions no danger or toxicity, you should still handle the product carefully.
  • Be sure to wear suitable protective equipment and handle with caution.
  • Refer to the SDS, related regulations, literature, etc., and use safety measures appropriate to the characteristics of the product.
  • Ideally products should be used promptly after purchase. The management, storage, and subsequent use of residual quantities must be at least as carefully undertaken as newly purchased products, since for example the decomposition of sensitive products may produce additional hazards.
  • Our products should be handled by qualified personnel. In-experienced users should be adequately supervised by a specialist.
  • Waste materials and any surplus or old products must be treated according to the relevant regulations.
Advice from the World Health Organization (WHO)
Environment, Health and Safety

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Disclosure of Liability and Warranty

The information provided in all Material Safety Data Sheets by Hoffman Fine Chemicals Pty Ltd are provided without any warranty, express or implied, regarding their correctness and does not purport to be all inclusive and shall be used only as a guide. Prior to use, please investigate not only the hazards and toxicity information but also the laws and regulations of the organization, area and country where the products are to be used, which shall be given the first priority.

The products supplied by Hoffman Fine Chemicals are intended to be used for laboratory purposes. They cannot be used to produce pharmaceuticals, quasi drugs, cosmetics, agricultural chemicals, insecticides or food additives. Under no circumstance are they intended for use in the home nor for animals. When improper use is suspected, Hoffman Fine Chemicals reserves the right to refuse to supply any product, as is also dictated by law, and takes no responsibility for any improper use.

All Material Safety Data Sheets are prepared and are to be used only for the specific products that they are explicitly listed within them. If the products are used as a component in another product, the Material Safety Data Sheet information may not be applicable. The conditions or methods of handling, storage, use or disposal of products are beyond Hoffman Fine Chemicals Pty Ltd's control and may be beyond Hoffman Fine Chemicals Pty Ltd's knowledge.

The information in all Material Safety Data Sheets are based on the present state of Hoffman Fine Chemicals Pty Ltd's knowledge and is applicable to the specific product with regard to appropriate safety precautions. It does not represent any guarantee of the properties of the specified product. The stated cautions are for normal handling only. In case of special handling, sufficient care should be taken, in addition to the safety measures suitable for the situation.

All chemical products should be treated with the recognition of "having unknown hazards and toxicity", which differ greatly depending on the conditions and handling when in use and/or the conditions and duration of storage. The products must be handled only by those who are familiar with specialized knowledge and have experience or under the guidance of those specialists throughout use from opening to storage and disposal. Safe usage conditions shall be set up on each user's own responsibility. The Pictogram, Signal Word, Hazard Statements and Precautionary Statements listed on Material Safety Data Sheets may differ from what is listed on Hoffman Fine Chemicals' product page on the website. New information or amendments may be made to any Material Safety Data Sheets.

For this and other reasons, Hoffman Fine Chemicals Pty Ltd does not assume responsibility and expressly disclaim any liability for loss, damage or expense arising out of or in any way connected with the handling, storage, contact, use or disposal of its products.