Safety data sheet: what it means for the CHST
A safety data sheet, or SDS, is the document a chemical manufacturer, importer or distributor must provide with a hazardous chemical. It follows a fixed 16-section layout set by OSHA's hazard communication standard, so the same information sits in the same place on every sheet, from hazards to first aid.
The sections in four groups
- What it is and why it is dangerous (1 to 3): identification and supplier, hazard identification with the classification, signal word and pictograms, and composition.
- What to do in an emergency (4 to 6): first aid, firefighting and accidental release.
- How to handle and control it (7 to 11): handling and storage, exposure controls and personal protection, physical and chemical properties, stability and reactivity, and toxicology.
- Other information (12 to 16): ecological, disposal, transport and other regulatory information, then the date of preparation or last revision.
OSHA enforces the content of sections 1 to 11 and 16. Sections 12 to 15 are included for consistency with the Globally Harmonized System, but fall under other agencies.
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Emergency Preparedness, Incident Investigation, and Response
On a building under construction, what is the longest allowed travel distance from any point of the protected area to the nearest fire extinguisher?
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Where to look first
For a quick hazard picture, section 2. For a splash or exposure, section 4. For controls, ventilation, PPE and any permissible exposure limit, section 8. For a spill, section 6. For storage near heat or other chemicals, sections 7 and 10.
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Access on a construction site
Construction follows the same rule through 29 CFR 1926.59, which points to 1910.1200. Sheets must be readily accessible to workers in their work area during each shift; an electronic system works only if there is no barrier to getting the sheet right away. On a multi-employer site, the written program describes how contractors share sheets for the chemicals they bring, so a painter's solvent sheet is available to the electrician working next to it.
Common mix-ups
- The SDS is not the label. The label is the short version on the container; the SDS is the full reference. Both are parts of hazard communication.
- Section 8 limits are not a promise of safety. They are limits, and controls should aim lower.
- An old MSDS format is not current. The 16-section SDS replaced the older free-form sheets when OSHA aligned with GHS.
- Consumer products used at consumer levels may be exempt; the same product used all day on site may not be.
On the CHST exam
Chemicals and GHS are named in the hazard and risk identification and control domain, 36.6% of the CHST. Products that cause sparks or flames also bring hot work rules into play.
Practice it
Our health hazards guide shows where chemicals sit beside silica, lead and noise. Every term in this set is in the CHST terms glossary.
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Sources
Show the list
- 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication, OSHA, including Appendix D on safety data sheets.
- 29 CFR 1926.59, Hazard Communication, OSHA.
- CHST Examination Blueprint (CHST5, V.2022.04.12), Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
Facts checked 26 October 2026 against the sources listed above. If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
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