December 27, 2019
For our end-of-year Safety Spotlight, we’re taking a look at the all-important Safety Data Sheet!
A Safety Data Sheet, or SDS, contains all of the need-to-know information about a chemical in sixteen sections, conveniently arranged in need-to-know order. All of the information you may need in the event of an emergency is covered in the first six sections. The information that will help you to prevent an emergency from occurring in the first place, starts at Section 7.
This format was developed by the United Nations, and is called the Globally Harmonized System, or GHS. Although compliance with GHS is voluntary, it has been adopted by OSHA in the United States, as well as most industrialized countries.

Here are the four questions an SDS addresses, along with the corresponding sections:
- What is the chemical and what are its hazards?
- Section 1- Product & Company Information
- Section 2- Hazards Identification
- Section 3- Composition / Information on Ingredients
- What should I do if a problem occurs while working with this chemical?
- Section 4- First-Aid Measures
- Section 5- Fire-Fighting Measures
- Section 6- Accidental Release Measures
- What precautions should I take to prevent problems while working with this chemical?
- Section 7- Handling and Storage
- Section 8- Exposure Controls
- Section 9- Physical & Chemical Properties
- Section 10- Stability & Reactivity
- Is there anything else I should know about this chemical?
- Section 11- Toxicological information
- Section 12- Ecological Information
- Section 13- Disposal Considerations
- Section 14- Transportation Information
- Section 15- Regulatory Information
- Section 16- Other Information
Team CORECHEM is committed to helping your company stay safe in the New Year. If you’re missing Safety Data Sheets for the chemicals being used in your facility, you can find them on our product pages, or feel free to contact us by phone or email.