What is a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?

 A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a fact sheet developed by manufacturers describing the chemical properties of a product. Material Safety Data Sheets include brand-specific information such as physical data (solid, liquid, color, melting point, flash point, etc.), health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, handling, disposal, personal protection and spill/leak procedures. As required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the target audience for information in a MSDS is the occupation worker who may be exposed to chemicals at work. However, much of the information is also relevant to consumers.

The term "Material Safety Data Sheet" has been changed to "Safety Data Sheet" (SDS) to comply with a format required by OSHA to be consistent the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).