What is a SDS Sheet / What is a Safety Data Sheet?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a controlled document created by a chemical manufacturer to detail important information about a chemical, how employers should store it, how employees should utilize it, and more. This update is only published in a single format, as opposed to MSDS which has multiple.

What is a MSDS Sheet / What is a Material Safety Data Sheet?

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is the former name of Safety Data Sheets, which came in many different formats.

What is a Chemical Safety Data Sheet?

A Chemical Safety Data Sheet is a standards SDS for chemical information documentation.

SDS MSDS – What is the difference?

SDS is published in a single, regulated format while MSDS was published in multiple formats. With the GHS standards taking root globally, SDS offers a simple solution for chemical manufacturers to provide a clean and simple form to display the necessary information.

What is OSHA 300 log?

The OSHA 300 log, or the OSHA Form 300, is a form for employers to record injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace with additional information such as where the incident occurred, where it occurred, what occurred during the incident, the name and job title of the effected employee, if the employee was required to be away from work, and any restrictions the employee may have.

What is the OSHA 300a form?

The OSHA 300a form is called the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. This summary is to be posted in a common location for workers for the duration of 3 months out of the year, February 1 to April 30.

What are the MSDS Requirements?

MSDS requirements consist of 9 required pieces of information: product information, hazardous ingredients, physical data, fire or explosion hazard data, reactivity data, toxicological properties, preventive measures, first aid measures, and preparation information.

How do I find MSDS Information?

MSDS Information should be provided by employers in an easily accessed location on the worksite where chemicals may be used.

Each data sheet has specific information on it pertaining to each chemical that may be used at a worksite.

Is there a Safety Data Sheet template available?

OSHA provides a guide for the information necessary on the Safety Data Sheets,, or with their ‘Quick Card’

What is a document management system?

A document management system (DMS) is a system used to track, manage and store documents and reduce paper. Most are capable of keeping a record of the various versions created and modified by different users. While there is no ‘Best DMS’, there are many solutions across many industries.

SDS Keep offers a user friendly document management system (DMS) for any industry that is required to keep Safety Data Sheets on hand for industry compliance.
For more information on what our DMS can offer you, visit our About SDS Keep page.

When was the deadline for companies to train their employees on SDS requirements?

December 1, 2013.

When was the deadline for manufacturers to convert MSDS to SDS?

June 1, 2015.

What are Safety Data Sheet Sections?

Safety Data Sheet Sections are regulated by OSHA and have 16 specific sections that could be present on the data sheet, of them 12 of the sections are required. Those sections include identification, hazard(s) identification, composition/information on ingredients, first-aid measures, fire-fighting measures, accidental release measures, handling and storage, exposure controls/personal protection, physical and chemical properties, stability and reactivity, toxicological information, and ‘other’ including date of preparation or last revision. Non-mandatory sections are ecological information, disposal considerations, and transport information. The layout of the sections varies from sheet to sheet, but all presented information should be clearly sectioned for the user to locate what they need.

What are the required 16 sections for SDS?

In the following order:

  1. Identification: Product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use.
  2. Hazard(s) identification: All hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements.
  3. Composition/information on ingredients: Information on chemical ingredients; trade secret claims.
  4. First-aid measures: Important symptoms/effects, acute, delayed; required treatment.
  5. Fire-fighting measures:: Suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire.
  6. Accidental release measures: Emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup.
  7. Handling and storage: Precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.
  8. Exposure controls/personal protection: OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs); Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE).
  9. Physical and chemical properties: List of the chemical’s characteristics.
  10. Stability and reactivity: Chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions.
  11. Toxicological information: Routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity.
  12. Ecological information*
  13. Disposal considerations*
  14. Transport information*
  15. Regulatory information*
  16. Other information: Includes the date of preparation or last revision and any other pertinent information.

*Note: OSHA won’t enforce Sections 12 through 15 because they fall under the regulatory authority of other agencies.
Employers must ensure that SDSs are readily accessible to employees.

Relevant links

HazComm QuickCard
SDS Required Sections
SDS Minimum Information