Watch this five minute video to learn all about Safety Data Sheets and how they can help keep you safe at work:
Here’s a quick summary of each part of a Safety Data Sheet for easy reference:
Identification
Name of the substance, manufacturer details, and recommended uses.
Hazard(s) Identification
All hazards of the chemical, including the warning labels.
Composition/ Information on Ingredients
Chemical ingredients and their concentrations.
First-Aid Measures
What to do if exposed, symptoms, and immediate care steps.
Fire-Fighting Measures
How to handle fires involving the substance.
Accidental Release Measures
Steps to contain and clean up spills safely.
Handling and Storage
Safe use, storage conditions, and precautions.
Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Recommended PPE and exposure limits.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Appearance, odor, boiling point, flash point, etc.
Stability and Reactivity
The stability of the substance and the materials with which it could react.
Toxicological Information
Health effects from exposure.
Ecological Information
Environmental impact (not mandatory in the U.S.).
Disposal Considerations
Safe disposal methods.
Transport Information
Shipping and transportation guidelines.
Regulatory Information
Legal requirements and safety regulations.
Other Information
This can include the SDS revision date along with any other details that the manufacturer chooses to include.
How to Access Safety Data Sheets at AL
At AL, workers have three options to access safety data sheets to review and learn more about the chemicals to which they could be exposed at work. Continue reading for more information:
First Floor Lobby Vestibule
Hard copies of safety data sheets for all chemicals currently in use in our facility can be found in the first floor lobby vestibule as pictured below:
They are organized alphabetically with the first half in binder #1 and the second half in binder #2. If you need to consult a safety data sheet from an inactive chemical that’s no longer in our building inventory, please contact AL’s Chemical Hygiene Officer, Katie Kline.
Individual Labs
Individual lab suites have binders with hard copies of currently used chemicals exclusive to that suite in a binder near the lab door as picture below:
Online via Velocity EHS
Digital copies are available through our online chemical inventory tool, Velocity EHS.
To access our online inventory, login with the following credentials:
Domain: umces
Username: ALViewer
Password: 301Braddock!
This system is also used to manage our chemical inventory. If you’d like to explore how to use Velocity EHS to search our existing inventory or find SDS for chemicals not currently in our inventory, we have provided the following bonus video. If you expect to conduct most of your work in the laboratory, we strongly recommend that you watch the video for tips and tricks on navigating Velocity EHS to find the information you need about chemicals you might use.
Bonus Content:
Click to view a demonstration video that covers how to use the Velocity EHS system: