A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is the standard document that communicates the hazards, handling, and emergency information for a chemical. Every lab that stores research materials should keep the relevant SDS on file. Here is how the document is organized and how to use it.
The 16 standard sections
- Identification
- Hazard(s) identification
- Composition / information on ingredients
- First-aid measures
- Fire-fighting measures
- Accidental release measures
- Handling and storage
- Exposure controls / personal protection
- Physical and chemical properties
- Stability and reactivity
- Toxicological information
- Ecological information
- Disposal considerations
- Transport information
- Regulatory information
- Other information
Which sections researchers use most
For day-to-day lab work, sections 7 (handling and storage), 8 (exposure controls and PPE), and 6 (accidental release) are the practical core. They tell you how to store the material, what protective equipment to wear, and what to do about a spill.
Keep it accessible
An SDS is only useful if people can find it. Store the current SDS with your inventory records and review it before first handling any new material. Northeast Research Supply identifies available documentation, which may include an SDS, on the applicable product page.
For Research Use Only. Not for human or animal consumption. Northeast Research Supply provides materials for legitimate laboratory, analytical, educational, and scientific research only. Nothing on this site is medical advice, and no material is offered as a food, dietary supplement, drug, or consumer health product. Purchasers are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements. See our Research Use Policy and Quality & Documentation pages.