Safety data sheets (SDSs) are documents that describe the physical and health hazards of chemicals or chemical-containing products; they must be readily available to personnel during all work shifts when these products are present in the work environment.
Access
Environmental Health & Safety maintains a centralized library of safety data sheets in the online MyChem database for your use. SDSs are available in MyChem to anyone with a UW NetID.
- Users with an established inventory can view SDSs associated with chemicals in their inventory.
- Users without a chemical inventory can search for an SDS by hovering over the Chemical menu and click Chemical Search.
If electronic access has been lost and you need immediate access to an SDS outside of normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday), contact the UW Police Department at 206.685.8973 and they will contact us to assist with the request.
Update SDSs
SDSs can be printed, indexed and stored in binders. The index must be updated whenever a chemical product is added to or deleted from the inventory. The file should be checked annually to verify that all SDSs are present and legible.
Training
Workers must be trained and able to demonstrate that they can successfully obtain a safety data sheet, regardless of whether they use MyChem or another system (e.g., paper, etc.).
Synthesized chemicals
If synthesizing a hazardous chemical, the PI or manager must generate a Globally Harmonized System-compliant label and safety data sheet before shipping or transporting the chemical away from the campus.
Use an SDS template to make a GHS-compliant SDS.
Contact
Contact Environmental Health & Safety with questions about safety data sheets.
Frequently asked questions
A safety data sheet (SDS) is generated in accordance with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The SDS format is new and replaces the MSDS or material safety data sheet (MSDS) format.
Safety data sheets (SDSs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are both required elements of a laboratory’s chemical hygiene plan but each captures different types of information.
Use the Standard Operating Procedures versus Safety Data Sheets Focus Sheet to understand what types of information can be provided by or included in each type of document and how to effectively use these documents as part of your laboratory’s chemical hygiene plan.
You are not required to keep a paper copy of an SDS unless electronic access to MyChem is a problem.
EH&S recommends laboratories maintain paper copies or easily be able to print SDSs for hazardous chemicals likely to spill and/or cause injury. Having an SDS immediately available when someone is exposed to a hazardous chemical aids emergency personnel in how to respond and treat that person.