Safety Data Sheets are an essential component of the GHS and are intended to provide comprehensive information about a substance or mixture for use in workplace chemical management.

In the GHS, they serve the same function that the Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS does in OSHA's HazCom Standard.

They are used as a source of info about hazards, including environmental hazards, and to obtain advice on safety precautions.

The SDS is normally product related and not specific to workplace; nevertheless, the information on an SDS enables the employer to:

• Develop an active program of worker protection measures, including training, which is specific to the workplace.

• Consider measures necessary to protect the environment.

SDS also provides important source of information for other target audience in the GHS – so certain elements may be used for the transport of dangerous goods, emergency responders (including poison centres), and those involved in the professional use pesticides and consumers.

Criteria for Determining Whether an SDS Should be Produced

An SDS should be produced for substances and mixtures which meet the harmonized criteria for physical, health, or environmental hazards under the GHS and for all mixtures which contain ingredients that meet the criteria for carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or specific target organ toxicity in concentrations exceeding the cut-off limits for SDS specified by the criteria for mixtures.

Competent authorities may also requires SDSs for mixtures not meeting the criteria for classification but containing hazardous ingredients in certain concentrations.

SDS Format

Information in the SDS should be presented using the following 16 headings in the order given below

 

1.     Identification

2.     Hazard(s) identification

3.     Composition/information on ingredients

4.     First-aid measures

5.     Fire-fighting measures

6.     Accidental release measures

7.     Handling and Storage

8.     Exposure controls/personal protection

9.     Physical and chemical properties

10.   Stability and reactivity

11.   Toxicological information

12.   Ecological information

13.   Disposal considerations

14.   Transport information

15.   Regulatory information

16.   Other information

 

SDS Content

SDSs should provide a clear description of the data used to identify the hazards. The minimum information for each section listed below should be included.

If specific information is not applicable or not available under a particular sub-heading, the SDS should clearly state this.

Some subheadings are national or regional in nature and SDSs should contain such information as is relevant for the area the SDSs are intended.