Cal-OSHA (§5194. Hazard Communication) “requires manufacturers or importers to classify the hazards of chemicals which they produce or import, and all employers to provide information to their employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed, by means of a hazard communication program, labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and information and training.”
The SDS includes information such as the properties of each chemical; the physical, health, and environmental health hazards; protective measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the chemical.
Not all SDS information is consistent or high quality across vendors. Source SDSs from reputable vendors rather than from random websites that turn up in internet searches. The following reputable sources provide high quality SDSs that are free to the public (USC no longer subscribes to MSDSonline for SDS access):
- Millipore Sigma (formerly Sigma Aldrich) — High-quality SDSs available online for a myriad of chemicals, including all common and almost all uncommon laboratory reagents. Millipore Sigma also has SDSs for a select number of gases.
- Alfa Aesar
- TCI America
- Airgas (gases)
- Matheson (gases)
- Linde (gases)
- Links to other sources for more obscure SDSs may be found at http://www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html and https://blink.ucsd.edu/safety/resources/SDS/sources/index.html
NOTE: It is the responsibility of personnel who order hazardous materials to obtain and store a copy of the associated safety data sheet. If not available online, personnel may contact the vendor to request the SDS of interest.
SDSs may be uploaded into EHSA (preferred) or stored on a local computer. EHSA and computer must be accessible to all lab personnel.
Questions? Contact labsafety@usc.edu or (323) 442-2200.