Who provides Safety Data Sheets?

Chemical manufacturers or importers must obtain or develop a safety data sheet (SDS) for each hazardous chemical product they produce or import. They make the determinations as to what chemicals are covered within the context of the Hazard Communication Standard’s requirements and develop an appropriate SDS. Chemical manufacturers or importers must ensure that distributors and employers are provided an appropriate SDS with their initial shipment, and with the first shipment after an SDS is updated.

The chemical manufacturer or importer must either provide SDSs with the shipped containers or send them to the distributor or employer prior to or at the time of the shipment.

Distributors must ensure that SDSs, and updated information, are provided to other distributors and employers with their initial shipment and with the first shipment after an SDS is updated. The distributor must either provide SDSs with the shipped containers, or send them to the other distributor or employer prior to or at the time of the shipment.

Retail distributors selling hazardous chemicals to employers having a commercial account must provide an SDS to such employers upon request.

Wholesale distributors selling hazardous chemicals to employers over-the-counter may also provide SDSs upon the request of the employer at the time of the over-the-counter purchase, and must post a sign or otherwise inform such employers that an SDS is available.