Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

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New chemicals are developed every day and for use in an ever-widening variety of applications. Providing accurate, clear, and concise information to employees who use, handle, or store hazardous industrial chemicals is paramount.

The Department of Labor adopted the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals—otherwise known as GHS. This change ensures that OSHA's current Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is aligned with internationally-developed guidelines for the categorization and labeling of hazardous substances.

Under the new GHS ruling, material safety data sheets (MSDS), will be referred to and called Safety Data Sheets (SDS). The new standards affect any workplace that manufactures, uses, transports, or stores hazardous chemicals.

SDS are the backbone of the HCS. The standardized 16-section SDS document provides comprehensive and specific chemical information used not only by workplaces that manufacture, use, transport, or store hazardous chemicals, but also by emergency responders, poison control centers, and transporters of dangerous goods.

Sections of the SDS:

The standardized 16-section SDS document covers the following information about the chemical:

Section 1 - Identification includes product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use.

Section 2 - Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements.

Section 3 - Composition/information on ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients; trade secret claims.

Section 4 - First-aid measures includes important symptoms/effects, acute, delayed; required treatment.

Section 5 - Fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire.

Section 6 - Accidental release measures lists emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup.

Section 7 - Handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.

Section 8 - Exposure controls/personal protection lists OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs); Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE).

Section 9 - Physical and chemical properties lists the chemical’s characteristics.

Section 10 - Stability and reactivity lists chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions.

Section 11 - Toxicological information includes routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity.

Section 12, Ecological information

Section 13, Disposal considerations

Section 14, Transport information

Section 15, Regulatory information

Section 16 - Other information includes the date of preparation or last revision.