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Material Safety Data Sheets

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS,) also referred to as a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), is a document that describes the chemical and physical properties of a material and provides advice on its safe storage, handling and use.

It includes details of health and physicochemical hazards, exposure controls, personal protective equipment, safe handling and storage instructions, emergency procedures and disposal advice.

MSDS are an information source that may be used in the workplace to inform a program to control hazards associated with working with hazardous substances and dangerous goods. The label is also an important source of this information.

MSDS can beprepared for non-hazardous materials, although for these materials a MSDS is not strictly necessary in order to comply with OHS regulations.

Requirements for preparing a MSDS

The responsibility to prepare a MSDS for a hazardous substance and/or dangerous goods lies with the supplier. A supplier is defined as a manufacturer or importer of hazardous substances or dangerous goods. The supplier should provide a MSDS, at first supply of the material or on request.

Duties and obligations for the production, review, revision and supply of MSDS are prescribed in the Commonwealth, state and territory regulations that give effect to the National Model Regulations for the Control of Workplace Substances [NOHSC:1005(1994)] and the National Standard for the Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods.The National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS Code) provides guidance on the preparation of an MSDS.

Review and Approval

An MSDS must be reviewed periodically to keep it up to date, for example when any new or significant information becomes available on the hazards of the material. Otherwise, a MSDS must be reviewed and re-issued every 5 years.

MSDS do not need to be formally approved. However, the OHS authority in each State and Territory is responsible for determining whether an MSDS complies with their relevant legislation or regulations through normal compliance activities. You should contact the OHS authority in your jurisdiction for advice on whether your MSDS meets their requirements.

International MSDS

Not all countries use the same criteria for classification of hazardous substances and dangerous goods, or have equivalent requirements for MSDS. As a consequence, some overseas MSDS do not meet Australian requirements.

MSDS prepared overseas are deemed to comply with Commonwealth, state and territory legislation if the MSDS are prepared in accordance with the MSDS Code of Practice and include the following information:

• Australian contact details – name of supplier, address and telephone number, including emergency contact details
• Classification in accordance with the Australian hazardous substance and dangerous goods regulatory framework
• Ingredients, disclosed in accordance with Australian, State and Territory government legislation
• National exposure standard values if available, and
• Relevant additional Australian regulatory information.

Refer to the MSDS Code of Practice for further information.