A Material Safety Data Sheet, often referred to as an MSDS, holds pertinent information about the physical properties of a hazardous substance. However, the term MSDS has been changed to SDS, Safety Data Sheet, in recent years. This type of document is required by OSHA under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) in 29 CFR 1910.1200(g). The regulation specifies that upon obtaining the product, the distributor, manufacturer, or importer must provide an SDS to the user to ensure information about safety procedures, precautions, and risks pertaining to the substance is known.Before the MSDS format was changed there were 9 sections that addressed general safety information about the specified chemical substance. This old format was not regulated which resulted in several different versions available to the user. Those inconsistencies quickly became difficult to handle hence the need to reevaluate and change the requirements to the simpler and more effective Safety Data Sheet format. The information contained in SDS documents is more or less the same as an MSDS. However, SDS forms are more user friendly with a 16-section format that is always consistent.The Elements of MSDSThe following sixteen sections in an SDS/MSDS are:IdentificationHazard(s) IdentificationComposition/Information on IngredientsFirst-Aid MeasuresFire-Fighting MeasuresAccidental Release MeasuresHandling and StorageExposure Controls/Personal ProtectionPhysical and Chemical PropertiesStability and ReactivityToxicological InformationEcological Information (non-mandatory)Disposal Considerations (non-mandatory)Transport Information (non-mandatory)Regulatory Information (non-mandatory)Other InformationSDS/MSDS documents are essential to the safety of employees in the workplace because the form has all the necessary information for proper handling and emergency situations. Without that information, the possibility of serious injury or death become a higher risk. Similar Questions What is the difference between MSDS and SDS?What does MSDS stand for?What information is on an MSDS?How Many Sections are in an SDS?Who Provides MSDS/SDS Sheets?What is the New Name for MSDS?What is the purpose of MSDS?What does HCS stand for?Is All of the Necessary Information Included on the MSDS?Additional Resources Material Safety Data Sheets [How-To Guide for Upgrading to SDS]Safety Data Sheets (SDS)Process Safety ManagementGHS: The Globally Harmonized System for Labeling [Updated 2019]GHS Label Creation

What is MSDS?

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A Material Safety Data Sheet, often referred to as an MSDS, holds pertinent information about the physical properties of a hazardous substance. However, the term MSDS has been changed to SDS, Safety Data Sheet, in recent years. This type of document is required by OSHA under the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) in 29 CFR 1910.1200(g). The regulation specifies that upon obtaining the product, the distributor, manufacturer, or importer must provide an SDS to the user to ensure information about safety procedures, precautions, and risks pertaining to the substance is known.

Before the MSDS format was changed there were 9 sections that addressed general safety information about the specified chemical substance. This old format was not regulated which resulted in several different versions available to the user. Those inconsistencies quickly became difficult to handle hence the need to reevaluate and change the requirements to the simpler and more effective Safety Data Sheet format. The information contained in SDS documents is more or less the same as an MSDS. However, SDS forms are more user friendly with a 16-section format that is always consistent.

The Elements of MSDS

The following sixteen sections in an SDS/MSDS are:

Identification
Hazard(s) 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 (non-mandatory)
Disposal Considerations (non-mandatory)
Transport Information (non-mandatory)
Regulatory Information (non-mandatory)
Other Information

SDS/MSDS documents are essential to the safety of employees in the workplace because the form has all the necessary information for proper handling and emergency situations. Without that information, the possibility of serious injury or death become a higher risk.