What is an SDS?
Every time you import a chemical product, you receive a Safety Data Sheet (SDS). An SDS contains critical information that protects your workers, your facility, and your business from liability. Under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), SDSs follow a standardized 16-section format recognized internationally.
The 16 Sections Explained
Section 1: Identification
Verify product name matches your purchase order, recommended uses align with your application, and supplier emergency contact is current.
Section 2: Hazard(s) Identification
Look for GHS classification, signal words ("Danger" or "Warning"), hazard statements (H-phrases like H225: Highly flammable), and precautionary statements (P-phrases like P280: Wear protective gloves).
Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients
Lists hazardous components and concentrations. Important for regulatory reporting, exposure limit compliance, and medical emergency response.
Section 4: First-Aid Measures
Immediate response by exposure route: inhalation (move to fresh air), skin contact (wash with soap and water), eye contact (rinse 15+ minutes), ingestion (do NOT induce vomiting for corrosives).
Section 5: Fire-Fighting Measures
Suitable extinguishing media, specific hazards from combustion, and special protective equipment for firefighters (SCBA required).
Section 6: Accidental Release Measures
Personal precautions, containment methods (dike spills, absorb with inert material), and cleanup procedures.
Section 7: Handling and Storage
Safe handling practices (ventilation, grounding), storage conditions (temperature limits, incompatibilities), and special requirements (nitrogen blanket for monomers).
Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Occupational exposure limits (OSHA PEL, ACGIH TLV), engineering controls, and required PPE (respiratory, hand, eye, skin protection).
Sections 9-16
Physical/chemical properties, stability/reactivity, toxicological info, ecological info, disposal considerations, transport info (UN number, hazard class), regulatory info, and revision date.
Common SDS Red Flags
- Outdated revision date: Older than 5 years? Request updated version.
- Generic template language: Hazards don't match the product.
- Missing sections: All 16 must be populated.
- Inconsistent information: Flash point differs between sections.
JBSR Safety Commitment
Every shipment includes a current, GHS-compliant SDS in English (additional languages available). Our SDSs are prepared by qualified specialists, updated regularly, and verified against actual product composition.