Prior to OSHA’s adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling, employers were required to keep documents, known as a material safety data sheets (MSDS), for every hazardous chemical in the workplace. Established in the 1994 HazCom Standard, MSDSs were usually pretty long with no formatting standards or consistency across the board.

When OSHA adopted GHS in 2012, MSDSs were simplified to safety data sheets (SDS). At their core, MSDS and SDS are essentially the same thing communicating the same information. Unlike MSDSs, SDSs have a strict 16-part format that must be in the right order—but like material safety data sheets, an SDS must accompany every chemical in your workplace and be in a central location (electronically for example) that can be accessed by all employees.

How has safety data sheets simplified chemical safety in your workplace? Share your experiences with us below!