FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

Hazmix® Questions and Answers

How can Hazmix® afford to make access to chemical data and regulations free?

Access to the chemical databases within Hazmix® is completely free to all users, whether or not you actually buy the SDS output.

You may ask yourself why we are making access free. Are we mad since other service providing companies are providing the same or lesser information at high cost?

We took this approach because we are acutely aware that much of the data we are presenting is already freely available on the internet and are in this business for the long term and not for short term gain. For this reason we have decided to share our 35 years of experience managing Global Chemical Regulatory Compliance in major chemical companies across the world with other companies to raise the quality of hazard and risk communication within the industry and associated supply chain. Global MSDS Ltd is committed to Honesty, Transparency and Accountability and believes that if you prosper, so will we.

Is the chemical hazard and regulatory data reliable and current?

We recognise that maintaining databases is a major undertaking not to be taken lightly. Indeed, the moment that you extract information from source into a database it is frozen in time. We also recognise that many databases contain chemical data that is of uncertain origin and reliability. So, if you are making decisions based upon this data, that may have implications for Product Liability, you should justifiably be concerned as to its reliability.

With the implementation of the REACH regulation there is a legal obligation for the Lead Registrant to maintain the registration up-to-date and in line with the state of knowledge. Consequently, the REACH Registered Substances database represents one, if not the, most comprehensive on-line database of reliable physical-chemical, mammalian and environmental toxicology data on chemical substances, Since we do not extract data from this source and only present it in real-time to the Hazmix® user, it is always as current as its source. All new and updated registrations are added to the on-line database,

The GESTIS Substance Database information on about 9,400 substances and is updated by IFA immediately after publication of new official regulations or after the issue of new scientific results. The Gestis DNEL database contains roughly 3,600 substances and is based on the DNEL list of the German Social Accident Insurance - DGUV and a compilation conducted by the Berufsgenossenschaft Nahrungsmittel und Gastgewerbe - BGN (Social accident insurance institution for the construction industry) which makes available workplace-related DNELs that have been established by manufacturers and importers on their own responsibility and are published in this form by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

The GESTIS dust database contains more than 6000 substance data and was realised with the financial support of the European Commission and elaborated in co-operation with the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung - BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing), Berlin, Germany; the Institution for statutory accident insurance and prevention of the foodstuffs industry and the catering trade (Berufsgenossenschaft Nahrungsmittel und Gastgewerbe - BGN, Mannheim, Germany); the Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung - IFA (Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance, Sankt Augustin, Germany); the DMT-Gesellschaft für Forschung und Prüfung GmbH (association for research and testing), expert body for surface fire and explosion protection - mining test facility, Essen, Germany and Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf, Germany.

How can Global MSDS Ltd and Hazmix® access ECHA and Gestis on-line data?

Global MSDS Ltd is the only company that we are aware of given formal permission to access ECHA’s on-line databases via deep web spiders. Other information providers that have scraped data from these databases are doing so in breach of ECHA’s copyright agreement.

The German Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung - IFA has formally granted Global MSDS Ltd permission to access its GESTIS on-line databases via deep web spiders though Hazmix® . IFA maintains the GESTIS Dust and Substance databases.

Which databases does Global MSDS Ltd and Hazmix® provide access to?

The databases that Global MSDS Ltd has independently developed include the following:

  • Occupational Exposure Limits in 59 countries and Biological Exposure Indices in 8 countries are maintained in good faith and Global MSDS Ltd makes reasonable efforts to ensure that these are faithful representations of the source regulations which are also provided so as to enable users to independently confirm the veracity of the information being presented.
  • The database of over 13000 Global Chemical regulations has been extracted directly from the internet and Global MSDS Ltd makes no representations as to their reliability. Users of this free service should refer to source authority/agency for any restrictions or limitations.
  • The phrase database containing over 9,800 phrases in 35 languages has been compiled by Global MSDS Ltd over its 15 years of incorporation using a combination of official sources (national regulations) and in-house and external professional multilingual translation services. Global MSDS Ltd takes great pride in the quality of its translations but does not warranty them since users should recognise that suitability of expressions may vary depending upon the context and gender, and that language is not an exact science with the preferred way of expressing meaning changing over time. Global MSDS Ltd will always respond quickly and favourably to suggestions of more appropriate phraseology and maintain the phrase database accordingly.

Global MSDS Ltd provides access to these information databases for reference purposes only and although the company endeavours to maintain these databases current as new information becomes available no warranty can be assumed or inferred as to veracity or completeness of the information provided.

How secure is my data on the Hazmix® website?

Hazmix is hosted on secure BladeVPS server located within Europe. The hosting company started in 2003 and currently supports more than 850,000 domain names and over 155,000 customers and complied with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation. The Host VPS comes with a 99.99% uptime guarantee by maintaining a high level of redundancy of their hardware and network.

Server access is secured through two factor authentication. Access to your data is via password assigned to your user id and tied to your email.

Hazmix data is backed up daily to an offsite repository ensuring that in the unlikely event of a major failure the data can be restored quickly and easily.

Hazmix utilises a token based payment system using a third party vendor to process the online payments, so no financial or credit card details are held within Hazmix.

What is the technical platform that Hazmix® operates?

Hazmix is built on the partnership of php and MySQL. This environment delivers rapid, secure access to very large datasets and runs reliably onh2 many operating systems, making it the language of choice for Facebook® and many large, multiuser applications. PHP is one of the most scalable languages for website development. Being an opens source language, its family of online developers is continuously involved in developing extension to meet the emerging requirements of the businesses.

Does Global MSDS Ltd have a Data Protection Policy?

How much does the software cost and are there any ‘hidden’ costs?

The software is Pay-as-you-Go so there is no capital outlay, support costs or maintenance charges. You only pay to print the SDS as a pdf or download it as a Word® or Writer® document using prepaid token. Accessing the databases of OELs and Global regulations and calculating transport and supply classifications is also completely free.

How can I be sure the software it is kept up to date?

Hazmix® is cloud based so there is no requirement for updates to be distributed and installed. Any legislative changes that require updates to the classification algorithms or rules within Hazmix® are dealt with by the Global MSDS skilled in-house regulatory and IT specialists. CLP classifications are obtained directly from ECHA Ltd and Adaptations to Technical Progress are added as they become available. Global MSDS Ltd also monitors Global regulations and updates the OELs, BEIs and Regulations databases as new regulations are promulgated.

How easy it is to move from my existing SDS software to Hazmix?

We have substantial experience of major systems integration (from any platform including SAP). A recent exercise saw us merge the SDS for two multi-national companies for a tenth of their estimated cost and timescale with diligence conducted on each document by experienced chemists/compilers.