Safety Data Sheets or as they are known SDS are a must for all chemical based products in you workplace.
They provide us with all the information we need to if we have an incident with a product.
Reading a Safety Data Sheet
- All SDS documents come in an easy to follow 16 point format.
- Point 1 identifies the product and manufacturer.
- Point 3 identifies what the product is made up of.
- First Aid Measures is point 4. This provides you with information regarding treatment for incidents with the product. This varies from product to product depending on the ingredients.
- Point 5 identifies any fire fighting measures.
- Point 6 identifies if there are any specific storage requirements
- Point 9. This provides you with information on the physical and chemical properties of the product. Things like it’s colour, perfume and PH. Incidents with the product. This varies from product to product depending on the ingredients.
- Point 11 indentifies the products toxicology. This section provides you with information on what symptoms may occur if you are affect by this product.
- You can be affected by a product in four ways:
- Eyes
- Inhalation – Smelling
- Skin
- Ingestion – Swallowing
- SDS are required for all chemically based products you have in your workplace.
- You should have copies of these in your office administration area and where your store all your bulk product.
