16-section The information contained in the SDS is largely the same as the MSDS, except now the SDSs are required to be presented in a consistent user-friendly, 16-section format.

How many sections must an SDS contain?

For a SDS to be valid in the UK it must have 16 sections. ​Here is information on how to read and understand the 16 Sections of a Safety Data Sheet. All the information within an SDS will be relevant depending on the circumstances. What information will be relevant to you will depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to; ​ ​Some of the information is relevant no matter what, such as the information relating to the correct firefighting media and accidental release.

• the manufacturer, including emergency contact details.
• recommended use, if relevant, and any restrictions of use.

Any risk assessment should either confirm that the substance will be used in accordance with this information, or detail what the use is going to be and if the restrictions are not going to be followed. Full information on how and why the control measures that will be in place must be listed.

1. ​CLP (classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures) are the UK regulations that enforce the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised system classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS). It uses 9 pictograms and identifies the hazards of the chemicals in the state that they are transported in.​
2. Signal word. After the pictogram may be a signal word (this is optional) that indicates the severity of the warnings. The lower hazard is ‘Warning’, the higher hazard is ‘Danger’.​
3. Hazard or H statements have 3 groups about how the substance may harm people. ​ – Physical Hazards H200 – H290, 35 phrases​ – Health Hazards H300 – H373, 38 phases that are used individually and 17 phases that combine 2 or more risks together​ – Environmental Hazards H400 – H433, 9 phrases​
4. Precautionary or P statements advise about the storage and use of the substance and has 5 groups; ​ – General (standard good practice) P101 – P103, 3 phrases ​ – Prevention (lowers the likelihood of exposure) P201 – P284, 34 individual phrases and 2 that combine 2 or more ​ – Reponses (lowers the consequences of exposure) P301 – P391, 46 individual phases and 24 phrases that combine 2 or more​ – Storage (safe storage) P401 – P422, 13 individual phrases and 6 phrases that combine 2 or more ​ – Disposal P501 – P502, 2 individual phrases ​

H and P phrases replaced the S and R phrases, so if the SDS you are working with uses S or R phases, it will not be the most current version and you should contact the supplier to access the current version.​ 3. Composition/information on ingredients​ For mixtures and compounds and other substances, it will list all the ingredients that are considered hazardous.

• If the substance is covered by patents or copyright, this information may be incomplete and if you are not using it in accordance with manufactures instructions further communication with the manufacturer may be necessary.
• For single-ingredient products it will list the purity and if relevant the concentration and the solvent used to make the solution.​ 4.

First Aid Measures​ This section covers basic first aid but not full medical treatment. In the case of exposure your supervisor and a first aider must be informed, and if you have any concerns medical advice should be arranged. In addition to this section, section 8 which cover the exposure controls and exposures limits should be read.

1. General Advice – This usually is covered in good practice. Anything that it outside UCL or departmental good practise should be highlighted in the risk assessment​.
2. Advice for contact by the different routes of exposure – This usually is covered in good practice. Anything that it outside UCL or departmental good practise should be highlighted in the risk assessment​.
3. Symptoms and effects – Should be considered as part of the risk assessment when considering the consequence of the risk before control measures are in place​.
4. Notes to the physician – Must be available to the first aider and other medical professionals. If you work with an SDS online consider whether access to this information is reliable in an emergency or if this information should be recorded in a hard copy somewhere that will be accessible in an emergency.​

5. Fire-fighting measures This section covers the following information​

1. Suitable & unsuitable extinguishing media – UCL provide water mist at the point of safety as standard. If the SDS recommends anything else, please contact the Fire Safety Team ​.
2. Physical properties that may lead to a fire, flash point, auto-ignition temperature, explosion limits, oxidising properties and sensitivity to physical shock or static discharge.​
3. Specific hazards related to fire from the substance​.
4. Hazardous combustion products​.
5. Information for firefighters – The seals on standard breathing apparatus is not suitable for many chemical fires, advice of the best equipment must be available in an emergency for the fire and rescue service to carry out their own risk assessment.​

6. Accidental release measures​ This information will enable you to ensure that you have the correct spill kit available. The advice covers;​

1. Personal precautions, including additional PPE, ventilation or the need to remove ignition sources​
2. If there are additional precautions to ensure that a chemical spill does not develop into a pollution incident​
3. Advice on the best clean up materials to be kept in the spill kits ​

7. Handling and storage​ Although it is possible to produce and then immediately destroy a substance in most circumstances it is not possible to use a substance without the need to handle and store it. ​ Advice on the precautions to be taken by individuals and good storage.

You should highlight any points that are not covered by good practice in the risk assessment​. Additional information on the specific end-use can be found here.​ 8. Exposure controls / personal protection​ The first section is referred to as control parameters. This section provides the information on how the workplace exposure limits were established if relevant.

If the SDS is not written for the UK market exclusively, care must be taken to note the correct limits for the UK.​ The second section will list the minimum expected engineering controls and PPE standards to be used. The uses of these should be confirmed in the risk assessment and if adjustments have been made, include an explanation of why and how the same level of protection has been achieved.

​ If there are workplace exposure limits (WELs) the risk assessment should indicate if health surveillance is required and what type.​ 9. Physical and chemical properties​ This section covers the properties of the substance in the state that it was transported and the chemical properties in normal environmental conditions (room temperature and standard pressure).

This may repeat information that is in the earlier section such as the flashpoint from section 5. However section 9 should be checked each time in case the information had been missed from the earlier sections.10. Stability and reactivity​ Provides information on the substance under normal conditions, the risk assessment should cover whether the substance will be kept under these conditions, if not further information may be needed about the stability and reactivity of the substance under the activity’s conditions.​ This section may be able to provide some information on this as it also covers conditions to avoid.​ Other information covered: incompatible material for both storage and reactions, hazardous decomposition production (from reaction with air, oxygen or water at standard storage conditions) and information on other hazardous reactions including hazardous polymerization.​ 11.

1. Toxicological information​ This information is used to classify the substance for CLP and is why the substance has been assigned certain H and P phrases.
2. Tests have been carried out a stated life form indicating the toxicity of the substance by the specified exposure route.
3. For example, the LD50 is the oral dose at which 50% of the lifeforms were killed when they ingested the substance.

​ Further information in this section explains the dosage that other harmful effects were assessed at, including irritancy, sensitization, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, teratogenicity and embryo toxicity, mutagenicity and toxicologically synergistic products.​ Although relevant for work with all hazardous substances, this section must be read and specific control measure to be included when working with biological hazardous substances.

​ 12. Ecological information​ PBT and vPvB stands for persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic and VERY persistent, VERY bio-accumulative.​ Section 11 covers the harm that the substance can do to the environment, both from gross contamination from a spill and over time if the waste is not treated in the correct stream.

This is particularly important for UCL as although single disposal through the mains water system may be within acceptable limits, repeated use of this system may have accumulative effects. The risk assessment for any substance before it is brought on to UCL sites must cover the safe and sustainable methods for disposal of both expected waste and accidental waste, including decomposition products.

​ 13. Disposal information​ Disposal information should cover the correct methods that the substance can be sent to the waste stream, including suitable and unsuitable methods of treatment of the substance and items that are contaminated with the substance. Due to the range of legislation that this covers and local rules that may be in place, always checks with a supervisor to ensure that the information is correct for your specific waste and area.

​ 14. Transport information​ Under UK law, the transport of hazardous substances is covered by the carriage of dangerous goods by road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air which is line with the UN model regulations. Section 14 covers the information required if you need to send the substance to another site including another UCL site.

• UN number​
• UN proper shipping name​
• Transport Hazard class(es)​
• Packing Group​
• Environmental Hazards​
• Special precautions for user​
• Information for transport in bulk.​

If you do have to ship samples or any hazardous substance please contact the Safety Services for specialist advice on the movement of dangerous goods.​​ 15. Regulatory information​ This section will be relevant to the country of origin. Always ensure that you have an SDS written for users based in the UK.​ It will list the other statutory instruments guidance and other documents that affect the purchase, storage, use, or production of the substance including but not limited to​:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (as amended). (COSHH)​.
• Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations.​
• Dangerous Preparations Directive 1999/45/EC.​

16. Other information​ This section is how you can check that the SDS is the latest version and suitable for use in the UK. Information from the publisher, including publishing date.

How many sections are in a MSDS sheet?

Introduction – A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides basic information on a material or chemical product. A MSDS describes the properties and potential hazards of the material, how to use it safely, and what to do in an emergency. The purpose of this document is to assist Canadian employees in understanding and interpreting this type of information.

The MSDS is an essential starting point for the development of a complete health and safety program for the material. MSDSs are prepared by the manufacturer or supplier of the material. They tend to be general in nature, since they provide summarized information which tries to address all reasonably anticipated uses of the material.

The information on MSDSs is organized into sections. The specific names and content of these sections can vary from one supplier’s MSDS to another, but are often similar to the 16 sections of the ANSI Standard for MSDS preparation, as listed below. If you are using a 9-section MSDS, the types of information may be in a different order and under slightly different headings.

Which safety data sheets have 16 sections instead of 9 sections?

Sections of MSDS vs Sections of SDS – MSDSs had 9 sections and they varied greatly in structure and information. SDSs now have a standard 16-section format with signal words (Warning or Danger), universally standardized hazard and precautionary statements, and hazard pictograms. Hazard pictograms are now red and white symbols or a Red Square tilted 45° on a point Pictogram.

Which of the 16 sections on the safety data sheet covers the first aid?

The Sixteen (16) Sections of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) The Global Harmonization System (GHS) is a product of the United Nations that embodies an international approach to hazard communication using an agreed upon criteria for classifying hazardous chemicals and a standardized method to communicate the hazards through use of container labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.1200 indicates the required (and suggested) information to include in the SDS and the format. Sections 1-11 and 16 are required, sections 12-15 may be included but are not required.

Section 1—Identification: Product identifier, manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number, emergency phone number, recommended use, and restrictions on use. Section 2—Hazard(s) identification: All hazards regarding the chemical and required label elements. Section 3—Composition/Information on ingredients: Information on chemical ingredients and trade secret claims. Section 4—First-aid measures: Required first aid treatment for exposure to a chemical and the symptoms (immediate or delayed) of exposure. Section 5—Fire-fighting measures: The techniques and equipment recommended for extinguishing a fire involving the chemical and hazards that may be created during combustion. Section 6—Accidental release measures: Steps to take in the event of a spill or release involving the chemical. Includes: emergency procedures, protective equipment and proper methods of containment and cleanup. Section 7—Handling and storage: Precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities. Section 8—Exposure controls/Personal protection: OSHA’s permissible exposure limits (PELs), threshold limit values (TLVs), appropriate engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Section 9—Physical and chemical properties: The chemical’s characteristics. Section 10—Stability and reactivity: Chemical stability and possible hazardous reactions. Section 11—Toxicological information: Routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or absorption contact), symptoms, acute and chronic effects, and numerical measures of toxicity. Section 12—Ecological information: How the chemical might affect the environment and the duration of the effect. Section 13—Disposal considerations— describes safe handling of wastes and methods of disposal, including the disposal of any contaminated packaging. Section 14—Transportation information— includes packing, marking, and labeling requirements for hazardous chemical shipments. Section 15—Regulatory information— indicates regulations that apply to chemical. Section 16—Other information— includes date of preparation or last revision.

The Sixteen (16) Sections of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Are there 16 sections on the SDS sheet?

The information contained in the SDS is largely the same as the MSDS, except now the SDSs are required to be presented in a consistent user-friendly, 16-section format. This brief provides guidance to help workers who handle hazardous chemicals to become familiar with the format and understand the contents of the SDSs.

Do all SDS have 16 sections?

How many sections in SDS? – Following GHS guidelines, SDS must include 16 specific sections which are grouped into four categories: 1) general information about the chemical, 2) technical and scientific information, 3) information governed by other agencies and 4) other. In this article we’ll explain each category and what is required in each specific section of a safety data sheet.

Is first aid on an SDS?

The First-Aid Measures section on a Safety Data Sheet provides recommendations on how to minimize the effects of an accidental exposure to a chemical product.

Why must SDS have the GHS specified 16 section format?

This standard format better ensures that all employers and employees understand the chemical, its hazards and the precautions users must take to remain safe. Your understanding of the information provided on a safety data sheet can mean the difference between being safe and being seriously—or even fatally—injured.

How many sections does SDS have quizlet?

There are 16 standardized sections that must be in each Safety Data Sheet.

Jack Gloop