Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Click the link below to view the SDS for the course you are enrolled in.

For more information on SDS and where to find them, see the boxes below.

What is a Safety Data Sheet?

Safety Data Sheets (SDS), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), are the current standard of documentation that gives detailed information about a material and about any hazards associated with the material. OSHA specifies that each SDS must include, at a minimum, the information listed in the 16 sections listed below. The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) sets forth certain responsibilities having to do with SDSs.

The four most important sections of an SDS to know for a student enrolled in a laboratory course are sections 1, 2, 4, and 11.

The 16 required sections of an SDS are as follows (source: OSHA SDS Quick Card):

Section Title Brief Description
1 Identification Product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use.
2 Hazard(s) Identification All hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements.
3 Composition/Information on Ingredients Chemical ingredients; trade secret claims.
4 First-Aid Measures Important symptoms/ effects, acute, delayed; required treatment.
5 Fire-Fighting Measures Suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire.
6 Accidental Release Measures Emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup.
7 Handling and Storage Precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities.
8 Exposure Controls/Personal Protection OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs); Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE).
9 Physical and Chemical Properties Chemical’s characteristics.
10 Stability and Reactivity Chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions
11 Toxicological Information Routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity.
12 Ecological Information*  
13 Disposal Considerations*  
14 Transport Information*  
15 Regulatory Information*  
16 Other Information Date of preparation or last revision.

*Note: Since other agencies regulate this information, OSHA will not be enforcing Sections 12 through 15 (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2)).

Where to find an SDS:

On the SUNY Geneseo campus:

All laboratories and facilities using chemicals must have the SDS available as either a physical copy or a digital copy that can be accessed without the need for an Internet connection.

  • In classroom chemistry laboratories, binders containing physical copies of SDS are found in the cubbies near the entrance to the rooms. Physical copies of SDS are also kept in the Chemistry Stockroom, ISC 329. Digital copies of SDS for each Chemistry lab course are found through the button at the top of this page.
  • In research laboratories, consult your research advisor or laboratory owner to learn where SDS are kept.

Searchable Database:

Vendor SDS Databases:

The following vendors are the most common businesses from whom the Chemistry Stockroom purchases chemicals.

Links to other helpful information regarding SDS: