What is the difference between MSDS and SDS?

What is the difference between MSDS and SDS?

An SDS or “safety data sheet” is an MSDS or “material safety data sheet”. They both go along with hazardous materials or chemicals and outline the dangers, composition, safe handling instructions, and disposal of said materials or chemicals.

Most current SDS style documents conform with the UN’s Globally Harmonized System or “GHS” standards. Basically, this format dictates that they be arranged in a specific order.

Some manufacturers have not caught up to the switch yet and still offer MSDS, so in specific cases companies may need to keep track of both types of documents.

Here is an MSDS VS an SDS example.

Employers are required to supply all employees with the SDS for the hazardous materials they may come in contact with.

I highly recommend using a tool like the one available through BasicSafe to manage your SDS. SDS tools like ours are built to make the documents easy to manage and keep up to date. They also make your SDS readily available to all employees.

If you have other SDS related questions feel free to leave them in the comments or reach out to us here!

Have great day!