What is an SDS?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contains important health, safety, environmental, and regulatory information on a substance or mixture, and is an integral part of a company's hazard communication program (along with proper labelling and worker training). The main purpose of an SDS is to provide workers, or anyone that may come into contact with a substance or mixture with the information they need in order to handle a product safely, throughout the complete life-cycle of that product (including production, shipping, storage, product use and handling, and disposal).

There are many different forms that an SDS may take however, the most widely accepted is one that follows the format used in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) developed by the United Nations. This 16 section format contains the following sections:

Section 1: IDENTIFICATION

Section 2: HAZARD(S) IDENTIFICATION

Section 3: COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS

Section 4: FIRST-AID MEASURES

Section 5: FIRE-FIGHTING MEASURES

Section 6: ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

Section 7: HANDLING AND STORAGE

Section 8: EXPOSURE CONTROLS / 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