The SDS FAQ: Introduction

What are Safety Data Sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS and MSDS)?

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) is what Safety Data Sheets (SDS) were called before the US Federal agency, OSHA, implemented its version of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) under the 2012 revision of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200 (commonly referred to as the HazCom Standard). In everyday terminology, the two terms are used interchangeably, however, strictly speaking, SDS's have a structured format and required information that MSDS's were not required to have.

Either way, a Safety Data Sheet, SDS, is designed to provide both workers and emergency personnel with the proper procedures for handling or working with a particular substance. SDS's include information such as physical data (melting point, boiling point, flash point etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, spill/leak procedures, and more. While SDS's are of particular use if a spill or other accident occurs, they are key to preventing workplace exposure and accidents and should always be consulted before working with a material or developing a new process. In fact, this is how employers generally meet their mandatory employee information and training obligation under the HazCom Standard./

In the US and other countries that use the GHS system, SDS's use a standardized format as well as carefully defined risk phrases, safety phrases, and pictograms to convey their information. These are typically several printed pages longs. In contrast, MSDS's had no required format (they could have been freeform text or haiku as far as OSHA was concerned), no standardized wording, and varied in length, consistency and quality. We have seen them from 1 to 10 pages, with most being 2 to 4 pages.

Who are SDS's for?

Many of our visitors use these weather-resistant SDS storage boxes like this one. We have 3 different sizes available at www.SafetyEmporium.com.

SDS's are meant for:

Employees who may be occupationally exposed to a hazard at work.
Employers who need to know the proper methods for storage, safe use etc.
Emergency responders such as fire fighters, hazardous material crews, emergency medical technicians, and emergency room personnel.

SDS's are not meant for consumers. An SDS reflects the hazards of working with the material in an occupational fashion. For example, an SDS for paint is not highly pertinent to someone who uses a can of paint once a year, but is extremely important to someone who uses that paint 40 hours a week. See the question "What are my rights to an SDS?" in the next section of this FAQ for more information.

That said, the Household Products Database by the U.S. National Library of Medicine is a terrific resource for consumers to educate themselves on the hazards of consumer products. For example, use it to select an environmentally-friendly ant killer, to find out who manufacturers a particular product, determine what chemicals are in your shampoo, or figure out what products use xylene!

See also: Manufacturer and employer responsibilities when providing MSDSs electronically for more about employer and manufacturer responsibilities.

What does an SDS or MSDS look like?

Before OSHA implemented its version of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), MSDS's could be in any format. With the GHS changes, SDS's now have a mandatory 16-part format. Likewise, MSDS's required a more limited amount of information compared to current SDS's. For example, compare the MSDS and SDS for benzoic acid:

SDS Version in standard 16-part GHS format.
An MSDS Version from the 1990's.

See this OSHA Brief "Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets" for more information about the currently required 16-part GHS format.

Are there any tutorials that explain how to read an SDS?

Yes, this OSHA Brief titled "Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets" provides a section-by-section explanation of the required information on SDS's under the 2012 revision to the HCS. Some additional resources are:

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's WHMIS 2015 - Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a simple summary along with some common questions.
How to Read A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) at Flinn Scientific.
Reading Safety Data Sheets from MIT.
SDS 101 - Reading and Using Safety Data Sheets from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Where can I get SDS's?

There are several places you can get them:

Get your SDS binders, centers and more from Safety Emporium.

Your laboratory or workplace should have a collection of SDS's that came with the hazardous chemicals you have ordered (don't throw them away!)
Most universities and businesses have a collection somewhere on site. Check with your Environmental or Occupational Health Office or science librarian. Some organizations use commercial services to obtain printed, FAX or on-line copies of SDS's.
You can get them from the distributor that sold you the material. If you can't find them then contact the manufacturer's customer service department. (Read this section about "downstream flow" of MSDS information)
The Internet has a wide range of FREE resources. A handy list of 100+ such sites is on our popular Where to Find SDS's on the Internet page.
You can purchase software or internet subsciption services.

Books such as the Merck Index and Prudent Practices in the Laboratory are not acceptable substitutes for SDS's, but these can give practical information on toxicity, physical properties and incompatibles.

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The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) FAQ: Introduction

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