Where Can I Find the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for a Hazardous Chemical?

This article covers the Safety Data Sheet requirement of the Hazard Communication Standard.

What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document about a chemical that communicates the hazardous properties of a chemical. communicate information on these hazards. The SDS includes information such as the properties of each chemical; the physical, health, and environmental health hazards; protective measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the chemical.

What are the Hazard Communication Standard Requirements for Safety Data Sheets?
The Hazard Communication Standard requires chemical manufacturers/importers to obtain, develop, and maintain safety data sheets (SDSs). This goes for every hazardous chemical they produce or import. They must also provide the SDS for distributors and employers.  

The employer must maintain copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical in the workplace.  The employer must ensure that these copies are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s).  

What are Additional SDS Requirements?
Employers must periodically review the list of hazardous chemicals in their hazard communications plans, make sure the list is up to date, and ensure that they have the SDS in place for each chemical on that list. The manufacturer, as noted above, is required to maintain these SDSs, and an employer can obtain the appropriate SDS directly from the manfacturer usually on their website, free of charge.

What are Additional SDS Requirements?
Chemical manufacturers or importers must provide SDSs to the distributer or employer prior to or at the time of shipment of the hazardous chemical. If an employer receives a shipment of a hazardous chemicals and the SDS is missing, the employer must contact the manufacturer or distributor and obtain one and maintain it in the workplace.

Compliancy Group does not maintain a repository of safety data sheets. Safety data sheets are published by manufacturers and are constantly updated.  Manufacturers must also prepare SDS for new chemicals.

For more information on Safety Data Sheets, you can view this OSHA guidance.

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