Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

16 sections, ≤ 5 years old, in English, with a 24/7 emergency phone. The single most useful chemical-safety reference on site.

Quick Take

• Manufacturer / importer prepares the SDS — must accompany supply.
• 16 GHS sections in fixed order.
• Reviewed at least every 5 years.
• 24/7 Australian emergency contact mandatory on the SDS.
• PCBU duty: obtain SDS at supply, current version (within 5 yrs), readily accessible to workers before first use.

1. Who must prepare an SDS

Manufacturer / importer of a hazardous chemical must:

• Prepare an SDS before first manufacturing / importing, or as soon as practicable, before first supplying.
• Use a writer with appropriate expertise and access to the formulation + classification.

A PCBU who packages or relabels with their own product name is treated as a manufacturer with full SDS obligations.

A PCBU who is not the manufacturer may only modify an SDS to attach a translation (clearly marked as not part of the original).

2. SDS must accompany supply (Reg 330–334)

Every SDS must:

• Be in English.
• Use Australian legal units of measurement.
• State the date last reviewed (or, if not yet reviewed, the date prepared).
• Include the manufacturer / importer Australian name, address, business phone.
• Include a 24/7 Australian emergency contact phone for chemical-specific information.

Current SDS must be provided on request to anyone likely to be affected by the chemical.

3. The 16 GHS sections (fixed order)

![[safety_data_sheets_img001.jpg|520]] Figure 1 — GHS pictograms — typically reproduced in SDS Section 2 (Hazards identification).

#	Section	Key content
1	Identification	Product identifier, other identifiers, recommended use & restrictions, manufacturer / importer details, emergency contact.
2	Hazards identification	GHS classification, signal word, hazard statements, precautionary statements, pictograms.
3	Composition / ingredients	Chemical identity (or generic name), proportion of each hazardous ingredient (Schedule 8).
4	First-aid measures	Per exposure route (inhalation / skin / eye / ingestion), immediate + delayed effects, antidotes, when to seek medical care.
5	Fire-fighting measures	Suitable extinguishing media, hazardous combustion products, special PPE for firefighters, Hazchem code.
6	Accidental release measures	Personal precautions, PPE, emergency procedures, containment + cleanup, disposal compatibility.
7	Handling and storage	Safe handling, restrictions, incompatibilities, storage temperature / conditions, general precautions.
8	Exposure controls / PPE	WES (TWA, STEL, peak), biological limit values, engineering controls, RPE, eye, hand, skin protection, hygiene.
9	Physical and chemical properties	Appearance, odour, pH, BP / MP, flash point, vapour pressure, density, solubility, partition coefficient.
10	Stability and reactivity	Stability, hazardous reactions, conditions to avoid, incompatibles, hazardous decomposition products.
11	Toxicological information	Acute / chronic effects by route, symptoms, dose-response, specific effects (carcinogenic, mutagenic, repro toxin); mixture data or ingredient-based.
12	Ecological information	Aquatic / terrestrial toxicity (acute / chronic), persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility in soil.
13	Disposal considerations	Suitable disposal methods, waste classification, contaminated packaging.
14	Transport information	UN number, proper shipping name, transport hazard class / division, packing group, marine pollutant status, special precautions.
15	Regulatory information	GHS classification summary, Australia-specific regulatory status (e.g. prohibited carcinogen, security-sensitive substance).
16	Other information	Preparation / revision date, version number, changes since last review, additional hazard info (e.g. ototoxic).

4. The 5-year review cycle

• Manufacturers / importers must review the SDS at least every 5 years from preparation or last revision.
• Amend whenever necessary (new hazard info, formulation change, regulatory change).
• No review required if the chemical hasn't been manufactured / imported in 5 years.
• Keep the SDS available after withdrawal from sale — workplaces still using legacy stock may need it.

5. 24/7 emergency phone

• Mandatory: an Australian business phone for emergency information about the chemical, outside working hours.
• May be a poisons information centre or commercial emergency-information service.
• Pre-confirm with the service before listing them; provide them with SDS copies and product details.

6. PCBU (user) duties

• Obtain the current SDS at supply for every hazardous chemical.
• Provide access — readily available to workers and HSRs in the workplace where chemicals are used / stored.
• Current versions only — within 5 years of preparation or last review.
• Maintain an SDS inventory list linked to the chemicals register.
• Train workers to interpret SDS info; understand hazards, safe handling, emergency response.

7. Worker training & SDS interpretation

Workers should be able to:

• Locate the SDS quickly.
• Identify hazards and exposure routes (Section 2).
• Apply controls and PPE per Section 8.
• Respond to spills (Section 6) and first-aid scenarios (Section 4).
• Find disposal procedures (Section 13).

Use simple language; avoid acronyms without legends and vague phrases ("may be dangerous", "safe under most conditions", "harmless").

8. Common pitfalls / quick wins

Do

• Maintain a single SDS register linked to your chemicals register; one source of truth.
• Re-check the supplier list annually — confirm the 24/7 emergency phone still works.
• Replace SDS older than 5 years from review date.
• Train new workers on how to read an SDS, not just where it lives.
• Keep page numbering ("Page 1 of 4 — End of SDS").
• For mixtures without test data, document the bridging principles used.

Don't

• Accept an SDS without a manufacturer / importer Australian phone.
• Leave blank fields silently — clearly state if data unavailable.
• Use US OSHA SDS or EU SDS as substitutes for Australian SDS — different regulatory data.
• Hide SDS in a locked cabinet or distant supervisor's office. "Readily available" is the legal test.
• Edit a supplier's SDS beyond attaching a translation.

9. Cross-references

• Within §06: [[managing_risks_of_hazardous_chemicals]], [[labelling_hazardous_chemicals]]
• §07 (asbestos / silica SDS): [[respirable_crystalline_silica]], [[manage_and_control_asbestos]]
• §05 (paint, blast media SDS): [[spray_painting_and_powder_coating]], [[abrasive_blasting]]
• Foundations: [[risk_management_process]]
• Glossary (GHS, WES, Hazchem): [[glossary_and_key_concepts]]

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Source: preparation_of_safety_data_sheets_for_hazardous_chemicals.md (Safe Work Australia, model Code of Practice, CC-BY-NC 4.0). Last verified against SWA: 2026-04-27.