Safety data sheet (SDS)
Definition
A 16 section document from the supplier describing a chemical's hazards, safe handling, emergency measures and transport.
The safety data sheet is the main hazard communication document for workplace chemicals. Under the GHS it has 16 sections in a fixed order, from identification and hazards through composition, first aid, firefighting, handling and storage, exposure controls and physical properties, to toxicology, ecology, disposal, transport, regulatory information and other information.
An SDS belongs to a specific product from a specific supplier. Two products with the same CAS number can have different SDS content if their grade, impurities or concentration differ. In the EU the format is set by REACH Annex II. Always check the revision date and the country version.
Related terms
- MSDS (material safety data sheet)The older name for a safety data sheet, still widely used in trade.
- GHS (Globally Harmonized System)The UN system for classifying chemical hazards and communicating them through labels and safety data sheets.
- Hazard statement (H statement)A standard phrase with an H code that describes the nature and degree of a chemical's hazard.
- TDS (technical data sheet)A supplier document describing a product's typical properties, specifications, applications and use instructions.
- COA (certificate of analysis)A batch specific quality document listing the tests performed, the specification limits and the actual results.