environmental

GHS 101: Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Role of Safety Data Sheets in the Harmonized System

Safety Data Sheets are an essential component of the GHS and are intended to provide comprehensive information about a substance or mixture for use in workplace chemical management.

In the GHS, they serve the same function that the old Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS did in OSHA's original HazCom Standard.

They are used as a source of info about hazards, including environmental hazards, and to obtain advice on safety precautions.

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The SDS is normally product related and not specific to workplace; nevertheless, the information on an SDS enables the employer to:

  1. Develop an active program of worker protection measures, including training, which is specific to the workplace.
  2. Consider measures necessary to protect the environment.

SDS also provides important source of information for other target audience in the GHS – so certain elements may be used for the transport of dangerous goods, emergency responders (including poison centers), and those involved in the professional use pesticides and consumers.

Criteria for Determining Whether an SDS Should be Produced

An SDS should be produced for substances and mixtures which meet the harmonized criteria for physical, health, or environmental hazards under the GHS and for all mixtures which contain ingredients that meet the criteria for carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or specific target organ toxicity in concentrations exceeding the cut-off limits for SDS specified by the criteria for mixtures.

Competent authorities may also requires SDSs for mixtures not meeting the criteria for classification but containing hazardous ingredients in certain concentrations.

SDS Format

Information in the SDS should be presented using the following 16 headings in the order given below:

  1. Identification
  2. Hazard(s) identification
  3. Composition/information on ingredients
  4. First-aid measures
  5. Fire-fighting measures
  6. Accidental release measures
  7. Handling and Storage
  8. Exposure controls/personal protection
  9. Physical and chemical properties
  10. Stability and reactivity
  11. Toxicological information
  12. Ecological information
  13. Disposal considerations
  14. Transport information
  15. Regulatory information
  16. Other information

SDS Content

SDSs should provide a clear description of the data used to identify the hazards. The minimum information for each section listed above should be included.

If specific information is not applicable or not available under a particular sub-heading, the SDS should clearly state this.

Some subheadings are national or regional in nature and SDSs should contain such information as is relevant for the area the SDSs are intended.

Annex 4 contains guidance on SDS preparation.

Minimum Information for an SDS
From 
GHS R3 Table  1.5.2

1. Identification of the substance or mixture and of the supplier

a)      GHS Product Identifier

b)      Other means of identification

c)       Recommended use of the chemical and restrictions on use

d)       Supplier’s details (including name, address, phone number etc.)

e)       Emergency phone number

2. Hazard identification

a)      GHS classification of the substance/mixture and any national or regional information

b)      GHS label elements, including precautionary statements. (Hazard symbols may be provided as a graphical reproduction of the symbols in the black and white or the name of the symbol e.g. “flame”, “skull and crossbones”);

c)       Other hazards which do not result in the classification (e.g. “dust explosion hazard”) or are not covered by the GHS.

3. Composition/information on ingredients

Substance

a)      Chemical identity;

b)      Common name, synonyms, etc.;

c)       CAS number and other unique identifiers

d)      Impurities and stabilizing additives which are themselves classified and which contribute to the classification of a substance.

Mixture

The chemical identity and concentration or concentration ranges of all ingredients which are hazardous within the meaning of the GHS and are present above their cut-off levels.

NOTE: For information on ingredients, the competent authority rules for CBI take priority over the rules for product identification.

4. First aid measures

a)      Description of necessary measures, subdivided according to the different routes of exposure, i.e. inhalation, skin and eye contact and ingestion;

b)      Most important symptoms/effects, acute and delayed.

c)      Indication of immediate medical attention and special treatment needed, if necessary.

5. Fire-fighting measures

a)      Suitable (and unsuitable) extinguishing media.

b)      Specific hazards arising from the chemical (e.g. nature of any hazardous combustion products).

c)      Special protective equipment and precautions for fire-fighters.

6. Accidental release measures

a)      Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures.

b)      Environmental precautions.

c)      Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up.

7. Handling and storage

a)      Precautions for safe handling.

b)      Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities.

8. Exposure controls/personal protection

a)      Control parameters e.g. occupational exposure limit values or biological limit values.

b)      Appropriate engineering controls.

c)      Individual protection measures, such as personal protective equipment.

9. Physical and chemical properties

a)      Appearance (physical state, color etc.);

b)      Odor;

c)      Odor threshold;

d)      pH;

e)      Melting point/freezing point;

f)       Initial boiling point and boiling range;

g)      Flash point;

h)      Evaporation rate;

i)       Flammability (solid, gas);

j)       Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits;

k)      Vapor pressure;

l)       Vapor density;

m)    Relative density;

n)      Solubility(ies);

o)      Partition coefficient: n-octanol/water;

p)      Auto-ignition temperature;

q)      Decomposition temperature;

r)       Viscosity.

10. Stability and reactivity

a)      Reactivity;

b)      Chemical stability;

c)      Possibility of hazardous reactions;

d)      Conditions to avoid (e.g. static discharge, shock or vibration);

e)      Incompatible materials;

f)       Hazardous decomposition products.

11. Toxicological information

Concise but complete and comprehensible description of the various toxicological (health) effects and the available data used to identify those effects, including:

a)      Information on the likely routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact);

b)      Symptoms related to the physical, chemical  and toxicological characteristics;

c)      Delayed and immediate effects and also chronic effects from short and long term exposure;

d)      Numerical measures of toxicity (such as acute toxicity estimates).

12. Ecological information

a)      Ecotoxicity (aquatic and terrestrial, where available);

b)      Persistence and degradability;

c)      Bioaccumulative potential;

d)      Mobility in the soil;

e)      Other adverse effects.

13. Disposal information

Description of waste residues and information on the their safe handling and methods of disposal, including the disposal of any contaminated packaging.

14. Transport information

a)      UN number;

b)      UN proper shipping name:

c)      Transport hazard class(es);

d)      Packing group, if applicable

e)      Environmental hazards (e.g.: Marine pollutant (Yes/No));

f)       Transport in bulk (according to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and the IBC Code);

g)      Special precautions which a user needs to be aware of, or needs to comply with, in connection with the transport or conveyance within or outside their premises.

15. Regulatory information

Safety, health and environmental regulations specific for the product in question.

16. Other information including information on preparation and revision of the SDS

Fill in additional information as needed.

Guidance for Compiling a Safety Data Sheet

Cut off values/concentration limits for each health and environmental hazard class

Hazard class Cut-off value/concentration limit
Acute toxicity ≥1.0%
Skin corrosion/Irritation ≥1.0%
Serious eye damage/eye irritation ≥1.0%
Respiratory/Skin sensitization ≥0.1%
Germ cell mutagenicity (Category 1) ≥0.1%
Germ cell mutagenicity (Category 2) ≥1.0%
Carcinogenicity ≥0.1%
Reproductive toxicity ≥0.1%
Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure) ≥1.0%
Specific target organ toxicity (repeated exposure) ≥1.0%
Aspiration hazard (Category 1) ≥10% of Category 1 ingredient(s) and kinematic viscosity > 20.5mm 2/s at 40˚C
Aspiration hazard (Category 2) ≥10% of Category 2 ingredient(s) and kinematic viscosity > 14 mm 2/s at 40˚C
Hazardous to the aquatic environment ≥ 1.0%

There may be some cases when available hazard data warrants an SDS on basis other than cut off values or concentration limits.

And an SDS may be required for mixtures that are deemed acutely toxic or toxic to the aquatic environment in concentrations equal to or greater than 1%

Some competent authorities may choose not to regulate certain categories within a hazard class, in such cases, no SDS would be needed.

If an SDS is required for a substance or mixture, then the information required to be included in the SDS should in all cases be provided in accordance with GHS requirements.

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