SDS

Safety Data Sheet

The Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) 1910.1200 requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import. Using that information, they must then prepare more detailed technical bulletins called Safety Data Sheets, or SDSs.

Each department head or designee is responsible for maintaining a manufacturer-specific SDS for each hazardous or toxic substance used or stored in his/her work area(s), and for ensuring that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s).

In lieu of maintaining hard copies of SDS's, electronic versions will be available through MSDSonline, SUNY Potsdam's Chemical Inventory and Safety Data Sheet service provider.

Please note, MSDSonline may ONLY be used as the SOLE SDS resource if ALL employees with the potential for chemical exposure in any given area have full access (i.e. computer access, a general understanding of how to navigate the system, etc.) to the service; otherwise, hard copies must be made readily available as well.

Each department head or designee must also send copies of all SDSs for new chemicals as they arrive, to the Environmental Health and Safety Director. This can be done one of two ways:

1. Access the MSDSonline site and enter the product name you're seeking to submit an SDS for in the search engine (you can narrow down your search by also including such information as the CAT. Number, the CAS Number, the Manufacturer, etc.) - if your initial search is not successful, try adding or removing information you've included in the search field and resubmit.
   
   Once you've found the correct SDS, check the box associated with that product (left of product name) which prompts you to select "Assign to Company List"; click on that prompt, which opens up a second screen.
   
   Fill out all required information on this "Approval Details" page and hit 'submit'. Your submission will be sent to a queue for the System Administrator/EH&S Director's approval. Please note: if your specific location is not listed in the drop down menu on the "Approval Details" page, call or email the System Administrator/EH&S Director so that the location can be added.
    
2. SDSs should be emailed to the System Administrator/EH&S Officer at obrienpm@potsdam.edu and, be certain to add within the email the specific location where the chemical(s) are to be used/stored - identify the Building, Department, Room Number and the Specific Location (i.e. cabinet A, stockroom, under fume hood #1, etc.).
   
   Once received, the proper SDS will be "paired" with the associated chemical(s) within MSDSonline.
   
   SDSs should be reviewed prior to purchase to properly evaluate the hazards and risks associated with the substances being considered for use.
   
   Each department head or designee is responsible for ensuring that an appropriate SDS is forwarded with each initial product shipment. If the SDS is not received with the initial shipment, it is the responsibility of the ordering entity (department head/designee) to contact the supplier (manufacturer/importer/distributor) and acquire an SDS and send a copy of the SDS to the System Administrator/EH&S Director as explained above.
   
   In order to obtain a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), please click Here. 
   
   *Please note that you must be located on the SUNY Potsdam campus to access MSDS online.

MSDSonline

Type the name of the product and click the search tool.

1. Search for an SDS for products by typing the name of the product and click the search tool.
2. Search the inventory of SDS sheets for products on the SUNY Campus by clicking on All Products.
3. Search for SDS sheets for products in a specific location by clicking Locations.