Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

• What is an MSDS?
• Access to MSDS
• Labelling and decanting

What is an SDS? 

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (previously Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)] is a document containing important information about a dangerous substance (which may be a hazardous substance and/or dangerous goods) and must be in English and state:

• the dangerous substance's product name
• the chemical and generic name of certain ingredients and the proportion of the ingredient in the substance
• the chemical and physical properties of the substance
• health and safety hazard information
• information for its safe use and handling
• first aid information
• the manufacturer's or importer's name, Australian address and Australian phone number
• identify if the substance is a good too dangerous to be transported in accordance with the ADG7.

The SDS provides persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), responsible persons, workers and health and safety representatives with the necessary information to safely manage the risk from hazardous substance exposure.

It is important that everyone in the workplace knows how to read and interpret a SDS.

Access to SDS 

Access to a SDS can be provided in several ways including:

• paper and microfiche copy collections of SDS with microfiche readers open to use by all workers
• computerised and internet SDS databases. 

The register of SDS should be used as an information tool to make sure everyone is involved in managing dangerous substances exposure at the workplace. 

A SDS should be reviewed whenever there is:

• a change in formulation which:
  
  • affects the hazardous properties of the substance
  • alters the form, appearance or mode of application of the substance
• a change to the dangerous substance which alters its health and/or safety hazard or risk
• new health and/or safety information on the dangerous substance such as exposure standard changes or a substance previously considered not harmful is now established to be harmful (e.g. carcinogenic)
• at least every five years.

In respect of SDS and labels, PCBUs/a responsible person must:

• Obtain a SDS of a dangerous substance from the supplier.
• Keep a register containing a list of all dangerous substances used at the workplace and put a copy of any SDS obtained in the register.
• Take reasonable steps to ensure the SDS is not changed other than by the manufacturer or importer.
• Keep the SDS close to where the substance is being used.
• Ensure a label is fixed to a dangerous substance container.
• Ensure warnings are given about enclosed systems containing dangerous substances. 

Retailers are not required to distribute SDSs. However, if a dangerous substance is purchased from a retailer, and the substance is for use at a workplace, a SDS can be requested from another supplier of the dangerous substance such as the manufacturer or importer.

In certain circumstances a supplier must provide copies of the SDS to the workplace and fix a label to the containers of all classified dangerous substances because the substances:

• are on the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) List of Designated Hazardous Substances
• on the designated list and are contained in a substance above a certain concentration
• meet the Approved Criteria. 

The format and content for a SDS used in Australia is set out in the 'National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances'.

PCBUs/a responsible person can also ask the supplier of a dangerous substance for a 'National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) summary report' which provides more detailed advice about health hazards and control measures.

Labelling and decanting 

Suppliers and PCBUs have specific labelling obligations for all dangerous substances containers in the workplace.

What is on the label? 

The label must be in English and contain the following:

• name of the product
• risk and safety phrases - as stated in NOHSC's document entitled 'National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances' that gives information about the substance's or lead's hazards
• dangerous goods information - as stated in the Australian Dangerous Goods Code 
• chemical names of particularly hazardous ingredients
• chemical or generic names of certain other ingredients. 

If the manufacturer has amended a SDS, the label must be changed to ensure that it is consistent with the information in the amended SDS. 

Containers of decanted dangerous substances at the workplace must be labelled with the product name and basic health and safety information (risk and safety phrases) from the supplier's label.