Safety Data Sheets
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document that provides detailed information about the properties, hazards, and safe handling of a chemical substance or product. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires chemical manufacturers and distributors to provide an SDS for each hazardous chemical to downstream users. Employers are required to maintain copies of SDSs for each hazardous chemical in the workplace. They are designed to ensure the safety of workers and emergency responders by providing crucial information on how to handle, store, and dispose of hazardous materials. They include sections on ingredients, physical and chemical properties, steps to take in case of exposure, procedures for spills and leaks, and recommended protected equipment and exposure limits.
To find safety data sheets for chemicals, you can do the following Google search: "Safety data sheet" + substance
Example: "Safety data sheet" + ammonia
Be sure to use the quotation marks!
You can also search on this site: Safety Data Sheet Search
- "Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets" from OSHA provides a section-by-section explanation of SDSs.
- MSDS Hyper Glossary: Definitions of terms used in safety data sheets.
Locating Articles about Safety Incidents
- Business Source Complete
Provides full-text for thousands of business journals and other sources, peer-reviewed business publications, trade journals/general business magazines, books (most indexed by chapter), industry reports and market research reports.
To find examples of incidents or accidents involving these chemicals, try this search in Business Source Complete:
Concept 1: isopropylamine OR Isopropyl alcohol or Ammonia
Concept 2: factory OR manufacturing OR production
Concept 3: Safety OR accidents or incidents
