How to SDS, Part 3: Best Practices for Managing SDS to Ensure EHS Compliance and Improve Chemical Safety

Once you have your SDS authored, what is the next step? It might sound obvious, but you now have to manage your portfolio of SDS effectively in order to ensure compliance.  

Processes vary greatly among workplaces. Perhaps you have a large team of dedicated SDS authors and dedicated staff for managing them. Or perhaps your team is very small, and you have resource constraints. Regardless, there are certain best practices that apply to all workplaces. 

6 Best Practices for SDS Creation and Safety Data Sheet Management

1. You should understand and comply with jurisdictional regulations. This means having a robust system of tracking which chemicals are in your products and which jurisdictions you and your suppliers are located in.  

 2. You should request SDS from manufacturers/suppliers as soon as possible. Do not wait until the last minute to contact your suppliers. Understanding what your suppliers are doing, which chemicals they are using, and which SDS they have on premises will help identify gaps. For instance, if a supplier is missing an SDS, you are responsible for ensuring that the supplier authors or is provided an up-to-date SDS for chemicals that need them.