- Link to SDS Sheets
- Printable QR code to provide employees access to SDS sheets
- Printable Sample Employee Acknowledgement
The link above provides access to SDS sheets. We highly recommend that you have SDS sheets available for employees in accordance with OSHA guidelines.
What is an SDS Sheet?
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document that tells you what you need to know to safely use a chemical product. It includes information such as potential hazards, required personal protective equipment (PPE), first aid procedures, storage requirements, and what to do if a spill or accident occurs. SDS sheets are available for every chemical used in our facility and should be reviewed whenever you have questions about a product or its safe use.
When Would I Need an SDS Sheet?
Most employees will not need to read every SDS from start to finish. However, you should know how to access an SDS whenever you need information about a product’s hazards, required PPE, first aid procedures, spill cleanup, safe handling, or storage requirements. SDS sheets are especially helpful when using a product for the first time, after accidental exposure, or anytime you have questions about working safely with a chemical.
What Should I Do In An Emergency?
If a chemical exposure, spill, or other emergency occurs:
- Call 911 immediately if there is a serious injury, medical emergency, fire, or immediate danger to life or safety.
- Move yourself and others to a safe location if it is safe to do so.
- Take any reasonable first aid actions, such as flushing exposed skin or eyes with water, as directed by product labeling or your training.
- Notify your supervisor as soon as possible.
- Bring the product container or secondary label with you, if it is safe to do so.
- Locate the product’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and provide it to emergency responders or medical personnel.
Remember: Your first priority is personal safety. Property, equipment, and production can be replaced. People cannot.
Is This All Just CYA Legalese or Is This Information Actually Useful?
It’s a fair question.
The answer is both.
Yes, OSHA requires employers to maintain Safety Data Sheets and make them available to employees. There is certainly a compliance component to SDS documentation.
However, SDS sheets are also practical tools. They can tell you what PPE should be worn, what to do if a product gets in your eyes, how to respond to a spill, whether a product is flammable, and what information emergency responders or medical personnel may need during an emergency.
Most employees will rarely need to read an SDS from cover to cover. The important thing is knowing where to find one and understanding that it contains useful information when questions or emergencies arise.
Think of an SDS as the instruction manual for a chemical product. Most days you won’t need it. When you do, you’ll be glad it’s available.