Workshop Safety Data Sheets
Workshop Safety Data Sheets
What is a SDS?
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a detailed document written by the chemical manufacturer for a specific chemical. Manufacturers, distributors, or importers must provide SDSs for each hazardous chemical to downstream users.
SDSs include information on:
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Chemical and manufacturer Identification
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Hazards and GHS classification
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Composition
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Safe handling practices
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Emergency control measures
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Physical and chemical properties
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Stability and reactivity information
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Toxicological information
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Exposure control information (PPE & other safe practices)
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Date of SDS preparation or last revision.
The information contained in the SDS must be in English (although SDS are available in other languages).
This chemical has a MSDS, and no SDS. Is this acceptable?
Yes. MSDSs, or Material Safety Data Sheets, are an older format of Safety Data Sheet. This format existed before the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard was updated to follow international standards in 2012.
Older products may still exist in the workplace using chemicals that have been phased out and replaced with newer products on the market. If a generic or up-to-date SDS does not include these products, they still need these data sheets until they leave circulation.
Does a SDS need to be in languages other than English?
No, but it is good practice. OSHA & the Wisconsin Dept. of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) do not require SDSs to be in any other language than English. Your employer is still required to tell you about workplace hazards and how to do your job safely in a language that you understand.
Where Can I find an SDS for a Chemical?
According to OSHA and DSPS, Safety Data Sheets must be available to all employees and their representatives who need them on request.
If you travel around campus for work, your SDSs may be stored at your shop or in an online inventory, or both.
Each Workshop at FP&M has their own SDS paper binder and a digital folder in the University of Wisconsin Chemwatch system.
Your workshop will have at least one physical SDS for each item without a readable SDS or MSDS (old format of SDS) in Chemwatch. Your shop may also have a physical binder of all SDSs in your shop as a backup.
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Talk to your supervisor if you need help locating your SDS binder or any paper SDS. EH&S will give your shop SDSs for items without a readable SDSs in Chemwatch.
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If a chemical still does not have a paper SDS or MSDS for a product, tell your supervisor to contact Workplace Safety or Chem Safety.
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Please send them a detailed description or detailed photos to make this process easier for everyone.
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Your supervisor will use the email address workplacesafety@fpm.wisc.edu to contact EH&S for this.
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Updating SDS Binders and Chemwatch folders
Each shop will reach out to Workplace Safety at workplacesafety@fpm.wisc.edu to ask for a new SDS to be added to their binder, Chemwatch folder, or both.
When a chemical without any SDS or MSDS is found or bought,
- supervisors will reach out to Workplace Safety directly to ask for the SDS
- or tell their shop's designated point of contact to ask for the SDS
EH&S will also follow up once a year with shop supervisors to see if any updates are needed.
How do I use Chemwatch to read SDSs?
UW employees with NetID should be able to read, print, and search for SDSs in the Chemwatch system.
Some functions and information (such as editing folders) may be limited to specific individuals and teams (for example, adding or removing SDSs and folders). Reach out to Chem Safety at chemsafety@wisc.edu if you need access to certain features.
- Workplace Safety HazComm page: Hazard Communication – Environment, Health & Safety – UW–Madison
Note: “Gold” SDSs can be a temporary placeholder as an SDS is added to Chemwatch or can be a Chemwatch-made generic SDS using information given by vendors.
Vendor SDSs are the most reliable source of information on a product. Gold generic SDSs draw much of their data from these documents.