Safety Data Sheets

What is a Safety Data Sheet?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS), previously called a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), is a document that provides information on the properties of hazardous chemicals and how they affect health and safety in the workplace. For example an SDS includes information on:

• the identity of the chemical,
• health and physicochemical hazards,
• safe handling and storage procedures,
• emergency procedures, and
• disposal considerations.

The SDS should always be referred to when assessing risks in the workplace.

Before using a chemical in the workplace, you should also make some simple checks to see whether it complies with the WHS Regulations.

• Is the SDS written in English?
• Does the SDS contain 16 separate headings? These, and the contents of each section, are further discussed below.
• Does the SDS state the name, address and business telephone number of the Australian importer or manufacturer?
• Does the SDS give an Australian business telephone number from which further information about the chemical can be obtained in an emergency?
• Was the SDS prepared within the last five years? If you cannot answer yes to all of the above questions, the SDS you have been given does not comply with the WHS Regulations. In this instance, you should contact the supplier, importer or manufacturer for an upto date and compliant SDS and refrain from using the chemical until you obtain the correct SDS.

If the supplier cannot or will not provide a compliant SDS, contact your local work health and safety regulator.