Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

A standardized 16-section document the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor must provide for every hazardous chemical, detailing its hazards, safe handling, storage, exposure controls, first aid, and emergency information. Its content and order are set by 29 CFR 1910.1200(g) and Appendix D; it replaced the unstandardized MSDS under GHS alignment.

The OSHA requirement that safety data sheets be readily accessible to employees during each work shift, in their work areas (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8); adopted for construction by 1926.59). “Readily accessible” means without barriers or unreasonable delay — electronic access is allowed, but only with reliable backup for power or system failures and no obstacle between the worker and the SDS.

The first section of a Safety Data Sheet. It identifies the chemical and who's responsible for it: the product identifier (matching the label), recommended use and restrictions, the manufacturer/importer's name, address, and phone, and — critically — an emergency phone number. It's the section a responder reads first to confirm they have the right SDS.

The SDS section that states what's dangerous about the chemical: its GHS hazard classification (each hazard class and category), all the required label elements (pictograms, signal word, hazard statements, precautionary statements), and any hazards not otherwise classified (HNOC). It's the fastest read for “how could this hurt me?”

The SDS section that discloses what the chemical is made of: the chemical name, common names/synonyms, CAS number, and concentration (or concentration range) of the substance or of each hazardous ingredient in a mixture. Any ingredient that contributes to a classified hazard must be listed, subject to limited trade-secret protection.

The SDS section that tells you what to do if someone is exposed. It gives first-aid instructions broken out by route of exposure — inhalation, skin, eye, and ingestion — plus the most important symptoms (immediate and delayed) and any indication of the need for immediate medical attention or special treatment. It's the section to open in a medical emergency.

The SDS section written for anyone fighting a fire involving the chemical. It lists suitable and unsuitable extinguishing media, the specific hazards the chemical creates in a fire (toxic combustion products, explosion risk, reactivity), and the special protective equipment and precautions firefighters need. It's a key reference for the fire department's pre-planning.

The SDS section that tells you how to handle a spill or leak. It covers personal precautions, protective equipment, and emergency procedures (protecting people first), environmental precautions (keeping it out of drains and waterways), and the methods and materials for containment and cleanup. It's the spill-response playbook for the chemical.