A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document that provides detailed information about a hazardous chemical, including its properties, hazards, and safe handling procedures 5, 13. Employers are required to maintain copies of SDSs for each hazardous chemical in the workplace and ensure they are readily accessible to employees during each work shift [1]. SDSs may be kept in electronic form as long as there are no barriers to immediate employee access [1].

Key aspects of SDSs:

• Purpose: SDSs provide information on the chemical's identification, hazards, prevention measures, and appropriate responses in emergency situations [2].
• Sections: SDSs include sections such as identification, hazard identification, composition/information on ingredients, first-aid measures, fire-fighting measures, handling and storage, exposure controls/personal protection, and more 7, 11.
• Availability: Employers must provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced [1]. Employees should be informed of the location and availability of SDSs [1].
• Updates: Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, or employers who become newly aware of any significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical must revise the labels for the chemical within six months of becoming aware of the new information [3].
• Language: The SDS must be in both official languages of Canada (English and French) [4].

It's important to always be familiar with the hazards of a product before you start using it, matching the product name on the container to the one on the SDS, knowing the hazards, and understanding safe handling and storage instructions, as well as what to do in an emergency [2].