What are some of the most important points that I should know regarding safety data sheets?

A safety data sheet (SDS) is a fact sheet for a chemical that poses a physical or health hazard in the workplace. SDSs must be in English (additional languages are acceptable, but English is the primary language), and must contain the following sections:

• Section 1. Identification
• Section 2. Hazard(s) identification
• Section 3. Composition/ingredients
• Section 4. First-aid measures
• Section 5. Fire-fighting measures
• Section 6. Accidental release measures
• Section 7. Handling and storage
• Section 8. Exposure control/personal protection
• Section 9. Physical and chemical properties
• Section 10. Stability and reactivity
• Section 11. Toxicological information
• Section 12. Ecological information
• Section 13. Disposal considerations
• Section 14. Transport information
• Section 15. Regulatory information
• Section 16. Other information

Your company must have an SDS for each hazardous chemical it uses, and copies must be kept where employees can access them. When employees must travel between workplaces during the day, SDSs may be kept at a central location.

If no relevant information is found for one of the categories at the time of preparation, the SDS must indicate that no information was found; blank spaces are not permitted. If you find a blank space on an SDS, contact your supervisor.