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Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

What is Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

An SDS (formerly known as MSDS) includes information such as the properties of each chemical' the physical, health and environmental health hazards, protective measures, and safety precautions for handling, storing and transporting the chemical. 

It provides guidance for each specific chemical on things such as:

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • First aid procedures
  • Spill clean-up procedures

WHO NEEDS TO HAVE SDS?

Anyone (students, researchers, etc.) working in a laboratory using chemicals will need to use SDSs.

Outside of a laboratory, SDSs are only required for occupational use (i.e., not consumer use). Employers are required to maintain them for employees who will be working with a potentially hazardous chemical

WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF AN SDS?

SDSs are designed to educate workers on how to prevent exposure and reduce workplace incidents involving chemicals. They are meant to always be consulted before working with a material or developing a new process.

If an exposure or incident does occur while using a product, the SDS for that product will have information about what to do.

Note: An SDS is useful in this context only if a single chemical is involved. Many accidents occur as a result of mixtures of chemicals. Accidental mixtures of chemicals are not in the purview of SDSs.

WHAT INFORMATION IS IN AN SDS?

OSHA requires that every SDS provide information outlined in all of the following 16 categories:
  1. Identification 
  2. Hazard(s) identification
  3. Composition/information on ingredients
  4. First-aid measures
  5. Fire-fighting measures
  6. Accidental release measures
  7. Handling and storage
  8. Exposure controls/personal protection
  9. Physical and chemical properties
  10. Stability and reactivity
  11. Toxicological information
  12. Ecological information
  13. Disposal considerations
  14. Transport information
  15. Regulatory information
  16. Other information