Chemical safety data sheets

Safety data sheets provide information on chemical products that help users of those chemicals to make a risk assessment. They describe the hazards the chemical presents, and give information on handling, storage and emergency measures in case of accident.

Safety data sheet information may lead to guidance appropriate for your task. COSHH essentials is a web tool that advises employers on good control practice.

By law (see REACH, GHS) suppliers of chemicals must provide an up to date safety data sheet if a substance is ‘dangerous for supply’.

All safety data sheets must contain information set out under 16 headings. At first sight some safety data sheets may appear long and hard to understand. However, you can find the most important information under the following sections:

Section 8: exposure controls and protection.
Section 9: (if a liquid) its boiling point or initial boiling point.
Section 15: the Risk (R) or Hazard (H) statements that describe the hazards.
For emergencies, Sections 4, 5 and 6 may contain useful information.

If information is missing from a data sheet contact the supplier. Contact details are in Section 1 of the data sheet .

Caution

A safety data sheet is not a risk assessment. You should use the information it contains to help make your own assessment.

As well as receiving chemicals you may supply them to others. If you do, you must pass on information (as safety data sheets) to those whom you supply.

You can find further information on HSE’s REACH web pages [114KB].