Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
A Safety Data Sheet is the detailed “instruction manual” for a chemical product. Every SDS uses the same 16 sections in the same order, so once you know the layout, you can find answers fast.
- Construction
- General Industry
Photo: SDS binder at a jobsite trailer, and an SDS app on a phone
The 16 sections
| # | Section | Look here for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identification | Product name, manufacturer, emergency phone |
| 2 | Hazard identification | Hazards, signal word, pictograms |
| 3 | Composition | Ingredients |
| 4 | First-aid measures | What to do for exposure |
| 5 | Fire-fighting measures | Extinguishing media, fire hazards |
| 6 | Accidental release measures | Spill cleanup |
| 7 | Handling and storage | Safe storage and incompatibles |
| 8 | Exposure controls / PPE | Exposure limits, ventilation, gloves, respirators |
| 9 | Physical and chemical properties | Flash point, odor, appearance |
| 10 | Stability and reactivity | What not to mix it with |
| 11 | Toxicological information | Health effects, symptoms |
| 12–15 | Ecological, disposal, transport, regulatory | (Not enforced by OSHA, but useful) |
| 16 | Other information | Date prepared or revised |
Fast lookup: before using a new product, read Sections 2 (hazards), 4 (first aid) and 8 (PPE). In an emergency, take the SDS (or a photo of it) to the doctor.
Access
SDSs must be readily accessible on every shift, in a binder or electronically, without barriers. Ask your supervisor where they’re kept on your site.
Standards & references
- 1910.1200 Appendix D: SDS format
- OSHA Brief: Safety Data Sheets
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