How to find safety data sheets: the complete guide for small business

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is a safety data sheet and why does OSHA require one?

A safety data sheet describes the physical and health hazards of a chemical, how to handle it, what to do in an emergency, and how to dispose of it. Every manufacturer or importer of a hazardous chemical is legally required to prepare one and pass it along the supply chain.

The legal authority is 29 CFR 1910.1200, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, often called HazCom or the "Right to Know" rule. Under that rule, chemical manufacturers must provide an SDS with the first shipment of any hazardous chemical and with any shipment after the SDS has been updated ^[1]. Your job as an employer is to receive those sheets, keep them, and make sure every employee who might be exposed can get to them during their shift.

OSHA aligned its SDS format with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in 2012, which is why you'll sometimes hear the old name "Material Safety Data Sheet" (MSDS) for documents that predate that change. The format is the same 16 sections whether the chemical is hydrochloric acid, sodium sulfate, or industrial-grade acetone. An MSDS from before 2015 may not meet the current 16-section GHS format. If a supplier sends you one that looks different, ask for an updated SDS.

Why does this matter on a normal Tuesday? If a worker gets splashed and the paramedics need to know what treatment protocol to follow, the SDS carries that information in Section 4 (First Aid Measures) and Section 11 (Toxicological Information). A missing or outdated SDS is not a paperwork problem. It's a response-time problem in a real emergency.

Where can you find safety data sheets for free?

Start with the chemical manufacturer's own website. Most major chemical companies, including 3M, Dow, BASF, and Sherwin-Williams, host searchable SDS libraries that are free and public. Search the manufacturer's name plus "SDS library" and you'll usually land on it within two clicks. Download the PDF and save it somewhere your employees can reach it.

Can't find the manufacturer's site, or can't identify the original manufacturer? Here are the most reliable free sources:

Source	What it covers	Cost
Manufacturer SDS portal	That brand's full product line	Free
ChemIDplus (National Library of Medicine)	Chemical identity and property data	Free
PubChem (National Library of Medicine)	Compound records with hazard data	Free
MSDS HazCom (msdshazcom.com)	Cross-brand user-submitted sheets	Free
Sigma-Aldrich / MilliporeSigma	Research chemicals, very detailed sheets	Free
Your chemical distributor	Sheets for everything they sell you	Free
3E Exchange	Broad library, some features paid	Free tier

Your distributor is the source almost nobody uses first. If you buy janitorial supplies, industrial lubricants, or paint from a single distributor, that company almost always has a portal or will email you the SDS for every product on your account. One call to your sales rep can pull an SDS package for your entire chemical inventory.

A concrete example. If you need a sodium sulfate safety data sheet (na2so4, CAS 7757-82-6, used in detergents, glass manufacturing, and pulp processing), Sigma-Aldrich hosts a current GHS-format SDS for it at no cost, and so do most industrial suppliers who carry it. Sodium sulfate is a low-toxicity compound, but it still gets a full 16-section SDS because OSHA's standard applies to any chemical meeting the hazard classification criteria ^[1].

Want a paid option? Services like MSDSonline (now part of Velocity EHS) and Chemwatch host millions of sheets in managed databases with version control and employee access tracking. For a small business with 20 chemicals, that's overkill. For a shop with 200 or more products rotating through inventory, the automatic update notifications save real time.

What are the 16 sections of an SDS and where is the information you actually need?

OSHA mandates a specific 16-section order under 29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendix D ^[10]. The sections are always in this sequence:

Section	Title	What it tells you
1	Identification	Product name, manufacturer contact, intended use
2	Hazard(s) Identification	GHS hazard categories, signal word (Danger/Warning), pictograms
3	Composition/Ingredients	What's in it, including trade secret allowances
4	First-Aid Measures	Immediate treatment by exposure route
5	Fire-Fighting Measures	Extinguishing agents, unusual fire hazards
6	Accidental Release Measures	Spill cleanup, containment
7	Handling and Storage	Safe practices, incompatibilities
8	Exposure Controls/PPE	OSHA PELs, ACGIH TLVs, required PPE
9	Physical and Chemical Properties	Flashpoint, boiling point, vapor pressure
10	Stability and Reactivity	Conditions to avoid, hazardous decomposition
11	Toxicological Information	Routes of exposure, LD50 data, carcinogenicity
12	Ecological Information	Environmental impact (not OSHA-enforced in the US)
13	Disposal Considerations	Waste regulations
14	Transport Information	DOT, IATA, IMDG classifications
15	Regulatory Information	SARA, RCRA, state right-to-know lists
16	Other Information	Revision date, preparer

Section 8 is the one your supervisors should know cold. It lists the permissible exposure limit (PEL) set by OSHA and the threshold limit value (TLV) set by ACGIH, plus the exact PPE the manufacturer recommends. Section 2 gives you the hazard category and the signal word, the fastest way to triage whether a chemical deserves extra attention in training.

For emergencies, train employees to go straight to Sections 4, 5, and 6. Everything else can wait until the person is stable or the spill is contained.

How do OSHA's recordkeeping rules for SDS actually work?

Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g), employers must maintain an SDS for each hazardous chemical used in the workplace and make sure employees can reach it during their shift ^[1]. The standard doesn't dictate a format. Paper binders in a break room, a shared network folder, a tablet mounted near the chemicals, a QR code on each container linking to a PDF, all of those satisfy the rule as long as workers can actually get to the sheet when they need it.

Here's the standard verbatim: "Employers shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s)." ^[1] That word "readily" has been read in OSHA letters of interpretation to mean computer access is fine, but the system has to work reliably, employees have to be trained to use it, and backup access has to exist if the computer goes down ^[2].

One thing that trips up small employers: you only need an SDS for chemicals actually present in your workplace in hazardous quantities. Consumer products used the way a normal consumer uses them don't trigger the full HazCom requirements. But the moment employees use a chemical in quantities or frequencies beyond normal consumer use, or get exposed in ways consumers wouldn't, the rule kicks in. When in doubt, keep the sheet.

You don't have to keep an SDS forever for chemicals you no longer use, but OSHA does require you to retain records of chemicals workers were exposed to in the past. The related standard, 29 CFR 1910.1020 (Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records), requires keeping exposure records for 30 years ^[3]. A practical approach: keep the SDS for any chemical you currently use, and for discontinued chemicals, keep at minimum a log of what the chemical was and where to obtain its SDS if a former employee needs health records.

What happens if you can't get an SDS from your supplier?

This happens more than it should, especially with small regional suppliers or imports. OSHA's answer is direct: the employer must contact the chemical manufacturer or importer and request the SDS ^[1]. If the supplier refuses or can't produce one, document your attempts in writing.

If you genuinely cannot get an SDS for a product you believe contains hazardous ingredients, your options are:

1. Request the SDS from the manufacturer using the contact info on the label. 2. Contact your OSHA area office. OSHA can compel suppliers to produce documentation. 3. Identify the chemical by CAS number or product name and pull an SDS from a comparable product. This isn't ideal and doesn't excuse your supplier's non-compliance, but it gives workers hazard information in the meantime. 4. Report the supplier's non-compliance to OSHA. The duty to provide an SDS sits on the manufacturer and distributor more than on you as the downstream employer.

For commonly traded chemicals, you can almost always find a suitable SDS from another supplier of the same substance. Sodium sulfate is a good example: dozens of suppliers sell it, and any of their SDS documents will give you accurate hazard and handling information because the chemistry doesn't change by vendor. For proprietary blends or trade-name products, you need the specific manufacturer's sheet, because the formulation may differ.

Keep a written log of every SDS request you make and when you got a response. If OSHA cites you for a missing sheet, documented attempts to obtain it show good faith, which OSHA weighs when setting penalty levels ^[4].

Can employees access SDS electronically, or does OSHA require paper copies?

Electronic access is explicitly allowed. OSHA has issued multiple letters of interpretation confirming that employers may use computers, tablets, kiosks, or any electronic system to provide SDS access, as long as employees are trained to use the system and it's reliably available during each work shift ^[2].

The practical requirements for a compliant electronic system:

• Employees are trained on how to retrieve sheets from the system.
• The system is accessible in or near the work area, not only in a manager's office.
• A backup exists for downtime. OSHA has said a computer system alone, with no backup, may fail the "readily accessible" test if it's prone to breaking.
• The files stay current. A dated PDF saved to a shared drive and never updated creates liability.

For small businesses, a shared Google Drive folder organized by chemical name or work area is free and works well. Label the folder clearly, train employees at hire and annually, and document that training in your HazCom records. Running multiple locations? A cloud folder accessible from any device beats a local network drive.

Paper binders aren't wrong. Plenty of safety officers keep a binder at every chemical storage point precisely because it needs no technology and survives a power outage. The best system is the one your employees will actually use in an emergency, not the fanciest one.

Manufacturers and distributors who want the underlying rule spelled out can read the hazard communication overview at SafetyFolio, which walks through the full employer obligations.

How do you build an SDS management system that actually stays current?

The hard part of SDS management isn't finding the sheets. It's keeping them updated as formulations change and making sure you have one for every chemical that lands on your loading dock.

Start with a chemical inventory. Walk your facility and list every product with a hazardous ingredient: cleaning supplies, lubricants, fuels, paints, adhesives, compressed gases. Cross-reference that list against your SDS binder or folder. Any gap is a compliance gap.

Then build a process for new chemicals. The moment purchasing orders a new product, that order should trigger an SDS request before the product arrives. Some businesses add an SDS-on-file requirement to their purchase order template. If the sheet isn't in the system within five days of receipt, the product doesn't leave the receiving dock. That sounds strict, but it's far easier than chasing sheets after the fact.

For updates, manufacturers must revise an SDS within three months of learning about significant new information on a chemical's hazards ^[1]. So your library can go stale without any action on your part. A workable schedule: re-download SDS documents for your highest-volume chemicals once a year and check the revision date in Section 16 against what you have on file.

If your workplace requires a written Hazard Communication Program (OSHA requires one for any employer with hazardous chemicals, period), the SDS management procedure should be a named section of that program. OSHA's model written program template is free on osha.gov and is a reasonable starting point ^[1]. Tools like the SafetyFolio safety program generator can draft a HazCom program in minutes instead of hours, which is worth a look if you're starting from a blank page.

A realistic schedule for a small business with 50 or fewer chemicals:

Task	Frequency
Chemical inventory audit	Annually
SDS currency check (Section 16 revision date)	Annually
New chemical SDS acquisition	Before first use
Employee HazCom training	At hire + when new hazards introduced
Verify employee access method works	Quarterly

That's not a big time commitment. One afternoon a year for the audit, a few minutes per new product, and a quick quarterly check that the binder is still where it belongs and the shared drive link still opens.

What are the most common SDS violations OSHA cites and what do they cost?

HazCom sits near the top of OSHA's most-cited standards year after year. In fiscal year 2023, Hazard Communication was the second most cited standard in OSHA's federal enforcement data, with 2,882 violations ^[6]. The maximum penalty for a serious violation can reach $16,131 per violation, and willful or repeat violations can reach $161,323 ^[4].

The most common SDS-specific citations:

• Missing SDS for a chemical present in the workplace (most common)
• SDS not readily accessible during a shift
• SDS not in the required 16-section GHS format (pre-2012 MSDS documents)
• No written HazCom program identifying where SDS are kept
• Employees not trained on how to read or locate an SDS

An OSHA inspector will usually ask an employee at random, "If you needed the safety data sheet for that chemical on the shelf, how would you find it?" If the worker draws a blank or points to a locked cabinet, that's a citation. The test isn't whether you own the sheets. It's whether workers can get to them.

Small employers under 10 people receive the same citations as large ones, but OSHA adjusts penalties by size. Employers with 25 or fewer employees receive a 60 percent penalty reduction on top of other adjustments ^[4]. That brings a $6,000 serious citation down to about $2,400, still not nothing, and it doesn't count the cost of abatement and the follow-up inspection.

For the bigger picture on OSHA enforcement and how citations work, the OSHA overview on this site covers the inspection process start to finish.

How do you read an SDS quickly in an emergency situation?

In a real emergency, nobody reads 16 sections. Train yourself and your workers on a three-section response: Section 4 for injuries, Section 5 for fire, Section 6 for spills. Everything else waits.

Section 4 (First-Aid Measures) is organized by route of exposure: inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion. When someone yells from the floor that a chemical hit their eyes, a coworker flips to Section 4, finds "Eye Contact," and reads one or two sentences aloud. The sheet will say something like "rinse with water for 15 to 20 minutes, seek immediate medical attention." That's actionable in seconds.

Section 8 (Exposure Controls/PPE) matters most for prevention, but it also carries the IDLH (immediately dangerous to life and health) concentration for inhalation hazards. If a tank leaks and you have to decide between shelter-in-place and evacuation, the IDLH number in Section 8 plus a rough estimate of the release can inform that call.

Section 9 gives you the flashpoint. If the flashpoint of a spilled liquid sits below your ambient temperature, vapors are already forming at concentrations that can ignite. Kill ignition sources immediately.

Post a one-page "How to use an SDS in an emergency" cheat sheet next to your binder. It doesn't need to be fancy. Three columns, three emergencies, three section numbers. Laminate it and tape it to the binder cover. Panicking employees will use it. Calm ones will already know the sections from training.

Do you need an SDS for every chemical, or are there exceptions?

No. The standard applies to hazardous chemicals, which OSHA defines as any chemical that is a physical hazard (flammable, explosive, oxidizer, and so on) or a health hazard (toxic, carcinogen, irritant, and so on) ^[1].

Exemptions under 29 CFR 1910.1200(b)(6) include:

• Hazardous waste regulated under RCRA (covered by different rules)
• Tobacco products
• Wood and wood products in their natural form (not treated)
• Articles (solid objects that don't release hazardous chemicals under normal use, like a metal bolt)
• Food, drugs, and cosmetics regulated by the FDA when used by employees the same way the general public uses them
• Consumer products used by employees the same way a consumer would (same frequency, duration, and volume)

That last exemption is the one that matters most for small businesses. A bottle of Windex used by one janitor to clean one window a week is probably consumer-use territory. The same Windex used by a cleaning crew spraying all day in a confined space is a different story: the exposure profile no longer looks like consumer use, and HazCom applies.

When in doubt, get the SDS. There's no penalty for having too many on file. There's a penalty for not having enough.

Businesses in states with OSHA-approved state plans work under a standard at least as protective as the federal one, and some states add requirements. California (Cal/OSHA) runs its own Hazard Communication regulation that mirrors GHS but layers on extra employer obligations. Check with your state plan office if you operate in a state-plan state.

How do SDS requirements connect to your written Hazard Communication Program?

The SDS is one piece of a three-part compliance picture under HazCom. The other two are container labeling and employee training. OSHA requires every employer with hazardous chemicals to keep a written Hazard Communication Program describing how they'll handle all three ^[1].

Your written program must spell out, at minimum:

• How you obtain and maintain an SDS for every hazardous chemical
• Where SDS are kept and how employees reach them
• What your container labeling system is
• How and when employees get HazCom training
• How you handle non-routine tasks involving hazardous chemicals
• How contractors get informed of chemical hazards in your facility

OSHA inspectors ask to see your written program before they ask to see your binder. A beautifully organized SDS collection doesn't replace the written program. You need both. The program doesn't have to be long. OSHA's own model program ^[1] runs about four pages. What matters is that it describes your actual practices.

One provision small businesses skip constantly: contractors. If you hire an outside electrician, HVAC company, or cleaning service that brings chemicals into your facility, you're obligated to tell them what chemicals are present in the areas where they'll work, and they're obligated to tell your workers about the chemicals they bring in. In practice, that usually means swapping SDS lists before work starts.

To build a complete written safety program that includes your HazCom section, SafetyFolio's program generator walks through the required elements for your industry and produces a customizable document. That's genuinely useful if you're starting from scratch and don't know what a compliant written program looks like.

If your workplace runs lockout tagout procedures, hazardous energy control and HazCom often overlap when chemical systems get serviced. Make sure your procedures cover both.

What training do employees need on how to find and use SDS?

OSHA requires training under 29 CFR 1910.1200(h) at the time of initial assignment and whenever a new physical or health hazard enters the work area ^[1]. The training must cover:

• The existence and requirements of the HazCom standard
• Operations in the work area where hazardous chemicals are present
• The location and availability of the written HazCom program, including the chemical list and SDS
• Methods to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical
• Physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area
• Protective measures employees can take
• Details of the employer's labeling system and how to read GHS labels
• How to read and use an SDS, including what each section means

The standard doesn't set a minimum number of training hours, which gives you flexibility. A one-hour session covering how to find the SDS binder or folder, how to move through the 16 sections, and how to use Section 4 in an emergency is a reasonable baseline for most workplaces. Document it: date, attendee names, topics covered, trainer name.

For workers who didn't grow up reading GHS pictograms, Section 2 of any SDS shows the pictogram images that match specific hazard categories. The nine GHS pictograms (flame, skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, health hazard, and the rest) are standardized internationally, so learning them once transfers to every chemical with a GHS label ^[11]. Post a pictogram reference chart near your chemical storage areas.

OSHA training resources, including free hazard communication materials in multiple languages, are on osha.gov. For supervisors who want deeper safety knowledge, an OSHA 30 course covers HazCom as part of its full curriculum.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find a safety data sheet for a specific chemical for free?

Start with the manufacturer's website, which almost always has a free SDS library. If that doesn't work, try your chemical distributor's portal, Sigma-Aldrich (good for research chemicals), or the National Library of Medicine's ChemIDplus and PubChem databases. For common industrial chemicals, at least three or four free sources will carry the sheet you need.

How many sections does a safety data sheet have?

A GHS-format SDS has exactly 16 sections in a mandatory order set by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendix D). The sections run from Identification (Section 1) through Other Information (Section 16). Any SDS that doesn't follow this 16-section format is either an older MSDS predating the 2012 GHS update or non-compliant. Ask your supplier for a replacement if you receive a non-16-section document.

What is the difference between an SDS and an MSDS?

MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet, the name used before OSHA aligned with the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS) in 2012. The content is similar, but the old MSDS format wasn't standardized in section count or order. The current 16-section GHS format became mandatory for all new sheets by June 2015. An MSDS from before that date may be missing information or have it in a different location, so updating to current SDS format is worth doing for high-risk chemicals.

Does OSHA require paper copies of SDS, or can I store them electronically?

Electronic storage is fully acceptable under OSHA's HazCom Standard. OSHA has confirmed in letters of interpretation that computers, tablets, or kiosks satisfy the requirement as long as employees are trained to use the system, the system is accessible in the work area during every shift, and a backup plan exists for downtime. Paper binders also work fine. The legal requirement is that sheets are "readily accessible," not that they're printed.

What section of an SDS tells you what PPE to wear?

Section 8, titled Exposure Controls and Personal Protective Equipment, lists the required or recommended PPE for handling the chemical. It also carries OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) and ACGIH's threshold limit value (TLV) for airborne concentrations, and specifies engineering controls like ventilation requirements. This is the section your workers and supervisors should know cold before handling any unfamiliar chemical.

How long do I need to keep safety data sheets on file?

OSHA's HazCom standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires you to keep an SDS for chemicals currently in your workplace. For chemicals no longer in use, the related standard 29 CFR 1910.1020 requires retaining employee exposure records for 30 years. In practice, most safety professionals keep SDS for discontinued chemicals, or at least a log of what the chemical was and where to obtain its SDS, for the length of that 30-year window.

What if a supplier refuses to provide a safety data sheet?

Document your request in writing and contact the manufacturer directly using the contact information on the product label. If they still refuse, contact your OSHA area office. The duty to provide an SDS rests on chemical manufacturers and importers more than distributors, under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(6). OSHA can compel compliance from the supplier. In the meantime, locate an SDS from a comparable supplier of the same chemical to give workers interim hazard information.

Are there chemicals that don't need a safety data sheet?

Yes. OSHA's HazCom standard exempts articles (solid objects that don't release hazardous chemicals), consumer products used by employees the same way a typical consumer uses them, food and drugs regulated by the FDA, tobacco products, and wood in its natural form. Hazardous waste covered by RCRA is also exempt. For anything else that qualifies as a physical or health hazard under GHS criteria, an SDS is required.

Where do I find an SDS for sodium sulfate (Na2SO4)?

Sodium sulfate (CAS 7757-82-6) SDS are free from Sigma-Aldrich, Fisher Scientific, and most industrial chemical suppliers who carry it. Search "sodium sulfate SDS" plus the supplier name, or look up CAS 7757-82-6 on the National Library of Medicine's ChemIDplus. It's a relatively low-hazard compound but still carries a full 16-section GHS SDS. Section 8 of the standard sodium sulfate SDS lists the applicable exposure limits and dust control requirements.

How do I know if an SDS I found online is current?

Check Section 16 of the SDS, which shows the revision date and version number. Then compare it against the manufacturer's current online SDS for the same product. Chemical manufacturers must revise an SDS within three months of learning about significant new hazard information. If your copy is several years old and the manufacturer shows a more recent version, download the update and replace the old one in your system.

Do I need an SDS for every cleaning product in my building?

It depends on how the product is used. Consumer cleaning products used by employees the same way and frequency as a typical household user fall under a consumer-product exemption in 29 CFR 1910.1200(b)(6). But if cleaning staff use products continuously through a shift in quantities or ways no consumer would, OSHA treats that as occupational use and HazCom applies. When in doubt, get the SDS. An unnecessary SDS carries no penalty. Lacking a required one does.

What is the penalty for not having safety data sheets at my workplace?

Missing SDS are usually cited as a serious violation under 29 CFR 1910.1200. OSHA's maximum penalty for a serious violation is $16,131 per violation as of 2023, though actual penalties adjust for good faith, history, and employer size. Employers with 25 or fewer employees receive a 60 percent size reduction. Willful or repeat violations can reach $161,323. Documented good-faith efforts to obtain missing sheets from suppliers can reduce penalties.

Can I use one SDS for multiple similar chemicals?

No. OSHA requires a separate SDS for each hazardous chemical in the workplace. Even two products with similar ingredients can have different formulations, concentrations, or impurities that change their hazard profiles, exposure limits, and PPE requirements. Using a single sheet for multiple products is a compliance gap and can lead to workers using the wrong protective measures. Each product gets its own sheet, filed or stored under the product name.

How do I organize my SDS binder to pass an OSHA inspection?

Organize alphabetically by product name or by work area, whichever matches how employees think about chemicals. Put a table of contents at the front. Keep your written Hazard Communication Program in the same binder or right next to it. Make sure the binder location is stated in your written HazCom program, because an inspector will check that the described location matches the real one. Update the table of contents whenever you add or remove a chemical.

Sources

1. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communication Standard (full regulatory text): Employers must maintain SDS for each hazardous chemical and ensure they are readily accessible during each work shift; manufacturers must provide SDS with first shipment and update within three months of new hazard information; 16-section GHS format is mandatory.
2. OSHA, Hazard Communication letters of interpretation (electronic SDS access): OSHA letters of interpretation confirm electronic SDS access is acceptable if the system is reliable, employees are trained, and backup access exists during downtime.
3. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1020 Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records: Employers must retain employee exposure records, including those tied to chemical exposures, for 30 years.
4. OSHA, Penalties page (OSHA penalty amounts and adjustment factors): Maximum serious violation penalty is $16,131; willful or repeat violations up to $161,323; employers with 25 or fewer employees receive a 60 percent penalty reduction.
5. OSHA, Top 10 Most Cited Standards Fiscal Year 2023: Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) was the second most cited OSHA standard in FY2023, with 2,882 violations.
6. National Library of Medicine, ChemIDplus (chemical identity and property database): NLM's ChemIDplus provides free chemical identity, property, and regulatory data including CAS numbers for locating SDS from other sources.
7. National Library of Medicine, PubChem (compound records with hazard data): PubChem provides free compound records, including GHS hazard classifications and CAS numbers, useful for locating an SDS.
8. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix D: Definition of Safety Data Sheet Sections: Appendix D mandates the exact 16-section order and required content for each section of a GHS-format SDS.
9. United Nations, Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS): The GHS provides the international framework for the 16-section SDS format and the nine standardized hazard pictograms that OSHA adopted in its 2012 HazCom revision.
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (chemical exposure data): BLS injury and illness data tracks chemical exposure incidents, providing context for the importance of SDS access and HazCom compliance.