| Print | Back | Close |

Safety Data Sheets

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is an excellent source of chemical information. The SDS is a technical bulletin containing information about a hazardous chemical. An SDS must contain

• hazardous ingredients
• physical and chemical characteristics
• fire, explosion, and reactivity hazard data
• health hazard data
• spill or leak procedures, and
• special protection information and precautions

OSHA requires vendors to supply an SDS for each hazardous material shipped. The Hazard Communication standard requires that SDSs are readily accessible to you for the chemicals you use. You will be instructed how to access the SDSs for your work area.

In addition, you should be familiar with abbreviations commonly used in an SDS. For example, the threshold limit values (TLVs) and permissible exposure limits (PELs) are used to determine the safety precautions needed when using a chemical.

These values will also help determine what safety equipment is to be used and what control measures are to be taken.

SDSs are required to provide the same information in the following order:

• the identification section includes the product identifier, manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number, emergency phone number, recommended use, as well as restrictions on use
• the hazard identification section includes all hazards regarding the chemical, and required label elements
• the composition/information on ingredients section includes information on chemical ingredients, as well as trade secret claims
• the section on first-aid measures includes important symptoms/ effects, acute, delayed; required treatment
• the section on fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment, and chemical hazards from fire
• the section on accidental release measures lists emergency procedures, protective equipment, and proper methods of containment and cleanup
• the section on handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities
• the physical and chemical properties section lists the chemical's characteristics
• the Stability and reactivity section lists chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions
• the toxicological information section includes routes of exposure, related symptoms, acute and chronic effects, and numerical measures of toxicity, and
• the date of preparation or last revision

If the specific chemical identity is classified as a trade secret, it may be withheld from the SDS. The SDS must still contain information on the properties and effects of the hazardous chemical.

Healthcare professionals, employees, and designated representatives can obtain the chemical identity by following specific procedures identified in the regulations.