Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are documents that provide information about the hazards, properties, and handling of a chemical or hazardous material. In 2012, the United Nations (UN) adopted a globally harmonized system for classifying and labeling chemicals, known as the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). As part of this system, the term MSDS was replaced with the term Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
SDSs are similar to MSDSs in that they provide information about the hazards, properties, and handling of a chemical or hazardous material. However, SDSs follow a standardized format and include specific information required by the GHS. SDSs are typically required by law in many countries and must be made available to employees and other users of hazardous materials.
The purpose of the GHS and the use of SDSs is to create a consistent, globally recognized system for communicating the hazards of chemicals and to improve the quality and availability of hazard information. SDSs are intended to provide users with the information they need to safely use, handle, store, and dispose of hazardous materials, and to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace.
In summary, the new name for MSDS is Safety Data Sheet (SDS). SDSs are similar to MSDSs in that they provide information about the hazards, properties, and handling of chemical or hazardous material, but they follow a standardized format and include specific information required by the GHS. SDSs are an important tool for helping to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace.
