Hazard Communication: GHS Safety Data Sheets

Course Overview

Safety Data Sheets are the backbone of OSHA's Hazard Communication program. Under 29 CFR 1910.1200, employers must maintain an accessible SDS for every hazardous chemical in the workplace and ensure employees are trained to read and use them. SDS accessibility violations ranked among the most common HazCom citations in FY 2024, with OSHA issuing over 3,100 total HazCom citations and nearly $5 million in penalties. Failure to maintain SDSs or train employees on their use can result in penalties up to $16,550 per serious violation.

This course trains your employees on the standardized 16-section SDS format adopted under the Globally Harmonized System, including how to find critical information such as exposure limits, first aid measures, and PPE recommendations. Your team will learn the nine GHS hazard pictograms and their meanings, how SDSs connect to container labels, and the employer's responsibility for maintaining and providing access to SDSs throughout each work shift.

What You'll Learn

• The standardized 16-section GHS Safety Data Sheet format and what each section contains
• The nine GHS hazard pictograms and how they appear on both SDSs and container labels
• How to locate critical safety information: exposure limits, first aid, PPE requirements, and spill procedures
• Employer responsibilities for SDS procurement, maintenance, and employee access under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)
• The relationship between SDSs, container labels, and the written Hazard Communication program
• Employee rights to access SDSs during work shifts without barriers

Who Needs This Training

• Workers who handle or may be exposed to hazardous chemicals in any workplace
• Safety managers maintaining the company's SDS library and written HazCom program
• Warehouse and receiving personnel who process incoming chemical shipments
• Maintenance and custodial workers using cleaning products, solvents, and adhesives
• Laboratory technicians and researchers working with chemical reagents
• Emergency response personnel who need SDS information during chemical incidents

Regulatory Background