Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or Safety Data Sheet.
SDS stands for Safety Data Sheet. This is a document that provides the information needed to work safely with chemicals. MSDSs are required by law, but they are also essential to protect the health of your company’s workers and environment. Let’s see in detail why.
SDS: working safely with chemicals
The purpose of the MSDS is to provide the information needed to safely handle and transport chemicals. These include:
- The description of the chemical substance or mixture;
- the hazards associated with exposure to the chemical and the protective measures to be taken (e.g., personal protective equipment to be worn);
- emergency procedures to be taken in case of an accident involving the chemical (e.g., what to do in case of fire or skin contact).
What information does the MSDS contain?
Information about the chemical substance or mixture is broken down into different sections within the MSDS. This structure is codified in the
GHS regulations
, so as to be clearly interpretable regardless of the language and country of the supplier.
The chemical product information
The first section of an MSDS contains general information about the product, including name, chemical identity (with CAS number), manufacturer/supplier contact information, and emergency phone numbers.
Safety Directions.
The second section identifies the specific health effects associated with exposure to the chemical. It also includes symptoms associated with overexposure or long-term exposure.
The third section lists hazardous reactions that can occur when exposed people come into contact with these chemicals in combination with other chemicals or materials used at work sites where these products are present. It also outlines measures to prevent such accidents. In addition to the harmful effects on the human body, the SDSs also illustrate the hazards to the environment. The MSDS thus covers all aspects of HSE( Health, Safety & Environment, literally Health, Safety and Environment) compliance.
How to read safety data sheets?
Reading an MSDS is the first step in understanding how a chemical substance or mixture behaves, and then understanding how to safely handle and transport it.
Here are some recommendations on how to carefully read MS DSs on mixtures and chemicals:
- Find the hazard section of the MSDS, which is usually located near the end of the document. This section should contain information about the risks associated with the use of or exposure to that particular chemical. It also includes recommendations for the use of protective equipment such as gloves or masks, if necessary. Check here before starting work with this substance!
- Look for the emergency contacts, usually placed at the beginning of the SDS. In case of an accident, it may be necessary to contact the supplier promptly.
- Then read all sections of this document carefully; each contains important information on safe handling procedures for materials, e.g., liquids or solids or gases, etc.
Where to find chemical safety data sheets?
Safety data sheets for mixtures and chemicals are not only available in paper format, but also on the Internet in digital format. They can then be downloaded as PDF or Word documents, making them very easy to read and use.
How to create an SDS with Chemilla, the GHS software from F1 Consulting & Services
The MSDS is an essential element for managing health, safety and environmental risks (
HSE compliance
) of your company.
An easy way to create an MSDS is to use Chemilla, a cloud-based GHS software that makes it quick and easy to manage this information. It is developed by the expert team of F1 Consulting & Service, a company with decades of experience in regulatory consulting.
A ChemillaMS DS includes all necessary information about the chemical, including its composition and hazards, as well as storage conditions and handling instructions. The
HSE Manager Chemilla software
also offers the ability to access the
ECHA database
, so you can automatically retrieve all the information related to your chemical. With Chemilla, it is also possible to generate the
UFI code
, send the
notification to the poison control center (PCN)
and design and print
hazard labels (ADR labels)
directly from enterprise devices.
Contact us to request a free demo and without obligation! We will show you how our MSDS software works and what unique benefits it can bring to your business.
