Guide
What Is an SDS (Safety Data Sheet)?
An SDS, or safety data sheet, is a standardized document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a chemical product. It describes the product's hazards and explains how to handle, store, transport and dispose of it safely, and what to do in a fire, spill or exposure. It follows a fixed 16-section format so the same information is always in the same place.
Last updated by SDS Lookup
What an SDS is for
The purpose of an SDS is to give anyone who might come into contact with a chemical the information they need to protect themselves and respond to emergencies. Workers use it to choose gloves and ventilation. Supervisors use it to set up storage. First aiders and emergency doctors use it after an exposure. Fire crews use it to decide how to approach a fire. Environmental and waste managers use it for spills and disposal.
It is the technical backup to the container label. A label has room for a name, a few pictograms and short phrases. The SDS carries the complete picture: composition, numerical exposure limits, physical data, toxicology, ecological effects, transport classification and regulatory status.
Who writes an SDS and what it is based on
The chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party writes the SDS. They classify the product against hazard criteria (in the US, the classes and categories of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, which are based on the UN GHS), and then document the classification and the supporting data. See the OSHA HazCom overview for the legal basis.
Because the supplier chooses the data sources and the classification approach, two sheets for the same chemical may differ. A sheet reflects the product as supplied, including its purity, additives and concentration.
The 16-section format
Every modern SDS contains the same 16 sections in the same order:
- Identification
- Hazard identification
- Composition / information on ingredients
- First-aid measures
- Fire-fighting measures
- Accidental release measures
- Handling and storage
- Exposure controls / personal protection
- Physical and chemical properties
- Stability and reactivity
- Toxicological information
- Ecological information
- Disposal considerations
- Transport information
- Regulatory information
- Other information
The sections overview explains each one, and the hub page shows how to find an answer fast.
SDS versus label
The label is on the container and gives the most important hazard information at a glance: the product identifier, signal word, pictograms, hazard statements and precautionary statements, plus the supplier's name and contact details. The SDS is the longer reference document. Both are based on the same classification, so the hazard statements and signal word should match. If they do not, ask the supplier which is correct. See labeling requirements for the details.
Which products need an SDS?
In US workplaces, a sheet is required for each hazardous chemical, which means a chemical that meets the definition of a physical or health hazard under HazCom. Some products are excluded from HazCom because other laws cover them: for example, consumer products used at work for their intended purpose with no more exposure than a consumer would have, food, drugs and cosmetics intended for personal consumption, and hazardous waste. Products that are not hazardous do not require a sheet, although some suppliers provide one anyway. The guide on consumer products gives more detail.
How to get and use an SDS
Sheets normally come with, or before, the first shipment of a hazardous chemical and are also available on supplier websites. If you do not have one, see how to get an SDS from a manufacturer. To use it effectively, read Section 2 first, then the sections that answer your question. Our reading guide offers a step-by-step method, and the AI SDS analyzer can summarise an uploaded sheet in plain language.
On this site, each chemical page compiles public data under the same 16 headings so you can compare substances quickly. These pages are summaries from public databases and do not replace the sheet from your supplier.
Frequently asked questions
What does SDS stand for?
SDS stands for safety data sheet. It replaced the term material safety data sheet (MSDS) when hazard communication rules were aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
Is an SDS legally required?
In the United States, manufacturers and importers must prepare an SDS for each hazardous chemical, distributors must pass it on, and employers must keep it accessible to workers. Other countries have comparable requirements.
Where do I find the SDS for a product I bought?
Check the supplier's website, the order confirmation or packaging, or ask the supplier or distributor. If you cannot get it, our guide on how to get an SDS from a manufacturer explains the steps.
How long is a typical SDS?
Length varies a lot with the product and supplier, from a couple of pages for simple products to many pages for complex mixtures with extensive regulatory data.