What is a safety data sheet (SDS)?

An SDS used to be called an MSDS, for material safety data sheet. The newer name follows the GHS format, which many countries now use as the base for their own rules.

Why an SDS matters

Anyone who stores, uses or ships a chemical needs to know what it can do. The SDS puts that in one place: what to do after a spill, what protective equipment to wear, what to do after contact. Customers often ask for it before they buy, and many will not receive a product without one.

This is a general explanation, not regulatory advice. Which products need an SDS, and what it must contain, depends on the country and the product. Check the rules that apply to you.

The 16 sections

Under GHS the sections run in this order:

1. Identification of the product and the supplier
2. Hazard identification
3. Composition and information on ingredients
4. First-aid measures
5. Firefighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and storage
8. Exposure controls and 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, including when the SDS was prepared or last revised

The fixed order helps. A responder looking for first-aid steps goes to section 4 on any GHS-format SDS.

Who provides it and when

The supplier of the product normally provides the SDS, and keeps it up to date when the product or the rules change. Distributors who resell a manufacturer's product usually pass on the manufacturer's SDS. Buyers often ask for the current version with each new order or when they first set up a product.

SDS versus technical data sheet

An SDS is about safety and handling. A technical data sheet is about performance and use: typical properties, applications and mixing instructions. A buyer evaluating a chemical often asks for both.

An example from product sales

Say a distributor of cleaning chemicals has 60 products and 200 customers. A new customer's safety officer asks for the SDS for six of them before the first delivery. The rep sends the six sheets with the quote. Two months later the manufacturer revises one sheet. The distributor needs to know which customers received the old version.

Related terms

• Technical data sheet: performance and application details.
• Certificate of analysis: test results for one batch.
• Sample management: samples of chemicals usually go out with an SDS.
• Sales quote: where the documents for a quoted product are often attached or sent.

How PromptLab handles it

Writing the SDS and keeping it compliant is work for the manufacturer and your regulatory team. PromptLab keeps the sales record around it: the customer account, its sample requests, its quotes and sales orders, and the email thread where you sent the sheets. Upload the sheets you sent to the account's Files tab, and anyone on the team can see what the customer was sent and when.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an SDS and an MSDS?

They are the same kind of document. MSDS is the older name. SDS is the name used with the GHS format, which has 16 sections.

How many sections does a safety data sheet have?

Sixteen, under the Globally Harmonized System. They always appear in the same order.

Who is responsible for providing an SDS?

The supplier of the chemical product normally provides it, and keeps it current. The exact duties depend on the country and the product, so check the rules that apply to you.

How often should an SDS be updated?

Whenever the product or the hazard information changes. Local rules may add their own review requirements. Section 16 carries the preparation or revision information, so a buyer can see how recent the sheet is.

Is an SDS the same as a technical data sheet?

No. The SDS covers hazards and safe handling. The technical data sheet covers how the product performs and how to use it.