​Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document that provides the users with complete information about a chemical, such as:

• Chemical Properties
• All the physical, health, and environmental hazards and their protective measures
• Precautions to be taken while handling, storing, and transporting the chemical.

"The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) of OSHA requires the chemical manufacturer, distributor, or importer to provide SDSs, formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), for each hazardous chemical to downstream users to communicate information on these hazards". The SDS is a document, which follows a 16-section format, consistent with the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

SDSs at KFUPM:

• The academic and research laboratories, and other work areas, must have SDSs available for all the chemicals that are in use at that place.
• These SDSs must be readily accessible to all the workers (hard copy or soft copy).
• An employee working with a certain chemical for the first time, must do so only after referring its SDS, and follow the guidelines.
• Not keeping a record of SDSs is considered a safety violation at KFUPM.