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LBNL SDS Guide

Last updated 10/16/2025

Background

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)) requires that the chemical manufacturer, distributor, or importer provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) (formerly MSDSs or Material Safety Data Sheets) for each hazardous chemical to downstream users to communicate information on these hazards. Employers must ensure that the SDSs are readily accessible to employees for all hazardous chemicals in their workplace. This guide provides information on locating and reviewing SDSs.

Note: Chemicals produced in laboratories at LBNL must, at a minimum, be evaluated for their hazards. When chemicals produced in laboratories will be shipped to a non-LBNL location (e.g. Collaborator), LBNL is regarded as a chemical manufacturer or distributor by Cal/OSHA and therefore an SDS is required. See the Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan, Work Process Z. for more information.

Important Sections of an SDS for Chemical Users

Section 1: Identification – Provides product details, its intended use, and supplier information.
Section 2: Hazard Identification – Identifies the hazard of the chemical(s) present on the SDS and the appropriate warning information.
Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients – Lists hazardous ingredients and their concentrations, typically shown as w/w % (weight of solute in grams per 100 grams of solution). If an ingredient isn’t hazardous, it won’t be listed. Only hazardous ingredients that make up 1% or more of a solution are listed on an SDS, in accordance with OSHA regulations. Non-hazardous components like distilled water and solid items like cassettes and slides do not require SDSs.
Section 4: First Aid Measures – Check here for what to do if the product is accidentally inhaled, ingested, or comes into contact with skin or eyes.
Section 7: Handling and Storage – Outlines proper storage conditions, including whether it needs to be stored in a fireproof cabinet or away from incompatible materials.
Section 13: Disposal Considerations – Offers general guidance for waste disposal. Consult waste management for LBNL specific hazardous waste requirements.
Section 14: Transport Information – Provides the proper shipping name and classification so that the material can be shipped according to Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. Quite useful if you need to ship a chemical.

Step 1: Find an SDS

Refer to the EHS SDS resources webpage.

The Lab’s Chemical Management System (CMS) has safety data sheets for chemicals already in the Lab’s inventory. To find an SDS in CMS, go to https://cms.lbl.gov/ and use the Manage Inventory feature to look up your chemical by RFID tag number, name, or CAS number. Click on the eye icon to view that chemical’s information. In the last section, titled “Compound Details” you will find a link to the SDS, or a button to perform a web search for the SDS.

Alternatively, you can go directly to the chemical manufacturer’s or vendor’s website. Look up the part number for your particular product, and the vendor often has a direct link to the SDS.

In rare cases, it may be necessary to contact the chemical vendor to request the safety data sheet. Contact cms@lbl.gov if you have trouble finding an SDS and we will request one on your behalf within seven working days of being notified.

SDSs can vary from vendor to vendor, so whenever possible, try to collect SDSs from multiple vendors to compare.

Step 2: In Section 2 Hazards Identification, check the Classification section

Look for any hazard with GHS Category 1 or 2. These are the highest level of hazard for that category. For example, a chemical that is classified as Flammable Liquids Category 2 is more flammable than one that is classified as Flammable Liquids Category 3.

Pay particular attention to the following classifications:

Explosives (any number)
Desensitized explosives (any number)
Pyrophoric Liquids (any number)
Pyrophoric Solids (any number)
Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases (category 1 or 2)
Organic peroxides (any number)
Acute toxicity (Inhalation) (category 1 or 2)
Acute toxicity (Dermal) (category 1 or 2)
Skin corrosion/irritation or Serious eye damage/irritation (category 1 or 1A/B/C)
Sensitization (skin or respiratory) (any number)
Carcinogenicity, Germ cell mutagenicity, or Reproductive toxicity (category 1A or 1B)

If any of these classifications are present, you may want to reach out to your DSC or EHS subject matter experts for help. Many of these are WPC Risk Level 3 (high risk) chemical hazards and will require EHS review.

Note that GHS hazard classifications and NFPA ratings are reversed from each other:

GHS Hazard Summary

GHS vs NFPA

Step 3: Read the Hazard Statements. Take them in. Think about all the ways this chemical could harm you.

Pay particular attention if the word Fatal appears in any of them, such as:

And note that the word Harmful can indicate quite serious harm. For example, chloroform is “harmful if swallowed” and the symptoms of ingestion include “burning of the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach, diarrhea, abdominal and substernal pain, cold, clammy skin, cyanosis(1) of the extremities and face, muscle cramps, mydriasis(2), hypotension(3), peripheral vasodilation(4), irregular respiration, respiratory failure, unconsciousness and liver damage.”

(1) Cyanosis: lack of oxygen leading to a bluish tint

(2) Mydriasis: abnormally dilated pupils

(3) Hypotension: abnormally low blood pressure

(4) Vasodilation: opening of the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, affecting blood pressure and thermal regulation

Step 4: Check for Hazards Not Otherwise Classified (sometimes abbreviated HNOC).

This is usually toward the very end of Section 2. It may be either above or below the Precautionary Statements. You won’t always find information here, but occasionally you will find important statements so it’s worth checking when you review an SDS.

Note: There is no GHS classification for peroxide formation or other classes of time-sensitive chemicals. But there are some phrases that may show up in other sections of the SDS (often sections 5, 7, and 10) that indicate a chemical may be time-sensitive:

WARNING: Long standing in contact with air and light may result in the formation of potentially explosive peroxides.
Contains low boiling substance: Closed containers may rupture due to pressure buildup under fire conditions.
Storage in sealed containers may result in pressure buildup causing violent rupture of containers not rated appropriately.
The substance accumulates peroxides…
May develop pressure in containers; open carefully. Vent periodically.
Formation of peroxides possible.

Another indication that a material is time-sensitive is the addition of an inhibitor or stabilizer to the material, such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4-methoxyphenol (MEHQ), hydroquinone, p-tert-butylcatechol, amylenes, sulfur dioxide, or in some cases ethanol or copper. Many vendors will not mention the possibility of peroxide formation in inhibited or stabilized chemicals, even though the inhibitor or stabilizer loses effectiveness over time.

LBNL's Chemical Management System (CMS) identifies time-sensitive chemicals with a clock icon and "Tags". Email chemsafety@lbl.gov if you need help identifying time-sensitive chemicals.

Step 5: Check Section 4: First Aid Measures for anything unusual

This may indicate that you need to have a special exposure kit on hand. The most common examples of chemicals requiring a specialized exposure kit are hydrofluoric acid (and by extension anything that can generate HF) (top example below) and phenol (bottom example below):

Step 6: Check Section 7: Handling and Storage, and Section 10: Stability and Reactivity

These sections may list materials that the chemical is incompatible with. Often this means that the reaction between them will be energetic - possibly causing intense heat, fire, evolution of gas, or even an explosion.

For example, phenol:

From this, we see that we should not store phenol near anything listed under 10.3, and we should be wary of reacting it with these materials. We also see that phenol should not be heated strongly because it may cause an explosion.

Note: It’s not uncommon to find vague or generic information here, or even for the section(s) to simply say “No Data” or similar:

Do not assume a lack of information means there are no concerns in these areas. It’s important to consult other sources of information to understand the hazards, properties, and chemical reactivity such as peer-reviewed research studies, experienced users, or consult with your DSC and EHS contacts.

Step 7: Check to see if there is any advice on gloves in Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

Some SDSs will provide specific recommendations for glove materials and other PPE:

Note that this section is often cut-and-paste with very generic template language:

Always confirm the appropriate glove choice by consulting glove compatibility charts or other sources of information
Respiratory protection may be listed, but is not typically required for quantities and conditions (i.e. use in a properly functioning and properly used chemical fume hood) encountered at LBNL. Furthermore, additional requirements apply prior to acquisition or use of respirators.

Step 8: Check Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties

Especially if it is toxic by inhalation, or if it’s a liquid and it’s a carcinogen/reproductive toxin/mutagen/may damage organs, the vapor pressure and boiling point can help you determine how likely inhalation exposure is.

Example 1:

Example 2:

The first chemical is quite volatile - it boils at a lower temperature than water, and its vapor pressure at room temperature, 563 hPa (56.3 kPa), is more than 50% of atmospheric pressure (101 kPa). You will inhale this if it’s handled outside of a chemical fume hood. The second chemical has negligible vapor pressure and does not pose much risk of inhalation. If these two chemicals were both equally toxic by inhalation, the first one would present far more risk.

This section also contains some other generally useful information such as a description of what the chemical should look like as purchased, its odor (if known/reported), the flash point, the density, whether it’s soluble in water, the melting point and freezing point, etc.

Step 9: Skim through Section 11 Toxicological Information for more detail on symptoms of exposure

LBNL subscribes to ChemWatch (GoldFFX) Safety Data Sheets database (VPN required when offsite), which typically provides detailed toxicological and exposure data.

ChemWatch Gold FFX example:

Example 2:

Summary

SDSs are a key component of hazard communication and chemical safety. While SDSs should generally be trusted, keep in mind limitations such as incomplete, inconsistent, or misleading information, as well as LBNL-specific policies and requirements that need to be considered, such as time-sensitive chemicals.

Where to Get Help, Acknowledgements, and References

Contact your DSC and EHS Liaison for support with hazard assessments or questions about SDSs. You may also email cms@lbl.gov.

The EHS Lab and Chemical Safety Team would like to acknowledge and thank Alyssa Brand, ALS Chemical Safety Specialist, for leading development of this guide, and the Chemical Safety Subcommittee of the Safety Advisory Committee for providing their review and technical expertise.

References:

OSHA Brief Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets, DSG BR-3514 2/2012. Accessed 9/22/2025 (link).
Safety Data Sheets: Challenges for Authors, Expectations for End-Users, Anne DeMasi, Harry Elston, and Neal Langerman, ACS Chemical Health & Safety 2022 29 (4), 369-377, DOI: 10.1021/acs.chas.2c00015

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