Safety Data Sheets

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), which were formerly known as Materials Safety Data Sheets or MSDSs, to communicate the hazards of hazardous chemical products.

Each SDS must provide the following information:

• Section 1, Identification includes product identifier information
  • Manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number
  • Emergency phone number
  • Recommended use
  • Restrictions on use
• Section 2, Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical and required label elements
• Section 3, Composition/information on ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients
• Section 4, First-aid measures includes important symptoms, effects, and required treatment
• Section 5, Fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques and equipment
• Section 6, Accidental release measures lists emergency procedures, protective equipment, and proper methods of containment and cleanup
• Section 7, Handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities
• Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection lists OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), appropriate engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Section 9, Physical and chemical properties lists the chemical's characteristics
• Section 10, Stability and reactivity lists chemical stability and the possibility of hazardous reactions
• Section 11, Toxicological information includes routes of exposure, related symptoms, acute and chronic effects, and numerical measures of toxicity
• Section 12, Ecological information* lists ecotoxicity (aquatic and terrestrial), persistence and degradability, bioaccumulative potential, mobility in the soil, and other adverse effects
• Section 13, Disposal considerations* describes waste residues and information on their safe handling and methods of disposal, including the disposal of any contaminated packaging
• Section 14, Transport information* lists transport hazard classes, packing group, if applicable, environmental hazards, special precautions a user needs to be aware of, or needs to comply with, in connection with the transport or conveyance within or outside their premises.
• Section 15, Regulatory information* lists safety, health and environmental regulations specific for the product in question.
• Section 16, Other information includes the date of preparation or last revision.

The asterisk (*) means that OSHA does not enforce these sections because they are regulated by other government agencies.

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