How Many Sections Are in an SDS and Why It Matters

A Safety Data Sheet explains a chemical’s hazards, safe handling practices, and emergency response guidance in a standardized format. For anyone understanding the SDS for the first time, the key detail is this: how many sections are in an SDS. The answer is 16 sections, covering identification, hazards, PPE, storage, first aid, and disposal.

The sections below break down the meaning of SDS, why the 16-section format exists, and how to use each section to find the details you need quickly:

• What is the meaning of SDS and why it matters for worker safety

• How many sections are in an SDS and what each section covers

• How to use Sections 1 and 2 to confirm the product and its hazards

• Where to find PPE, first aid, spill response, and disposal guidance

• What to check in Section 16 to confirm the SDS is current

Before getting into the section-by-section breakdown, it helps to understand where the SDS format came from and why it became the standard for hazard communication.

Now that the SDS format is standardized, the next step is knowing how many sections are in an SDS and what each section is designed to tell you.

What Is Included in an SDS?

The standard SDS format defined in GHS and HazCom 2012 uses sixteen sections. If you are asking how many sections are in an SDS, the answer is 16. Because of the amount of information involved, this can seem overwhelming, but the sections are organized to be helpful for anyone understanding the SDS for the first time.

The 16 Sections of a Safety Data Sheet

*Sections 12–15 are required by GHS but are not enforced by OSHA.

Readers who aren't already familiar with chemical documentation, but are looking at a Safety Data Sheet for the first time, will almost certainly need the information required in sections 1 and 2-typically, starting at the top of the first page. These sections include fundamental information about a material's identity and source, and its associated hazards and safety precautions. Readers who need more in-depth details or more technical recommendations will typically have time to read down to later sections, which include details like the material's chemical composition and regulatory information.

For information on the sixteen sections of the SDS, and what each part needs to contain, see the parts of an SDS.

Reading an SDS

If you need to read an SDS to find information for a given material, there are only two steps for you to follow. First, find the right document; second, find the specific details you need.

Receive a complimentary chart showing the sections of an SDS, and how those sections relate to the details on a chemical label.

Contact the supplier of the material for further details. One of the requirements for Section 1 of an SDS is the name, address, and phone number for the supplier, so you should have no trouble reaching them.

Creating an SDS

If you've been tasked with creating an SDS, you must compile the information and arrange it into the required format. The best way to make sure you haven't missed anything is to start with an example and fill in the details for your material. OSHA has provided an item-by-item list of the required details in Appendix D of the HazCom 2012 regulations; you can simply copy and paste that list into a word processing program, and replace each entry with the correct information.

If you have an older document describing the material, such as a "Material Safety Data Sheet" or MSDS, that older document may have many of the details you need to create the new document. Because there were many different systems for creating an MSDS, it's difficult to tell if that document will include everything you need for a new SDS.

While each of the sixteen sections needs to appear in the prescribed order, and needs to include the required information, there is no required format or presentation. A typical SDS will use ordinary text, with headings for each section, but additional formatting such as borders are also common. Some companies choose to include their logo on each SDS, or even use a corporate letterhead. While stylish formatting can make an SDS more readable or attractive, a basic and compliant SDS can be created in any word processing program.

Using the SDS in Your Facility

To serve its purpose, an SDS needs to be available for workers to read. Depending on the materials and processes used in your facility, you may find that keeping multiple copies in different areas is useful. Whenever workers have questions about a material, they should be able to find the SDS for the material quickly and easily.

 You'll also want to keep each SDS on file, even if the chemical is no longer used in your facility. OSHA's recordkeeping rules in 29 CFR 1910.1020 require companies to keep track of all hazardous chemicals that their employees could be exposed to; these exposure records must be kept for 30 years. Including a copy of the SDS as part of that record is not the only way to comply with the requirement, but it's one recommended approach.

Not all workers will need to understand all of the technical details of an SDS, but every worker has a right to know about the hazards they may be exposed to, and every worker has the right to understand what those hazards mean and how to stay safe. Basic training on the chemical hazards in your facility should be provided for every worker, including how to find and understand the SDS for any hazardous chemical that is present. Duralabel offers free resources to help train workers. Grab one of our free GHS/HazCom Guides or OSHA's HazCom 2012 rules for workplace chemical safety.