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Curtin University
Health & Safety

Safety Data Sheets

The Chemical Management Plan provides information and details Curtin’s requirements for Safety Data Sheets in a dedicated section. The following guide has been provided for the convenience of Curtin’s staff and students and supports the information contained within the Plan.

How to read a Safety Data Sheet

While a chemical’s label may identify the hazards associated with that chemical, the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) will provide more detailed health and safety information. An SDS is a document prepared by the manufacturer of the product to provide information to the end-user.

All chemicals used at Curtin must have an Australian compliant SDS. A compliant SDS will display the following features:

  • The manufacturer or supplier’s Australian address
  • Organised into 16 standard headings
  • Classification of the chemical against Australian Regulations

    • If the SDS of the chemical you are using does not meet the above three conditions seek an updated copy from the supplier. If assistance is required email Health and Safety at HealthandSafety@curtin.edu.au and include a copy of the SDS. A charge will apply for our provider to convert an overseas SDS to the Australian compliant format, and to confirm application of the various Federal and State regulations to the chemical.

    Each of the SDS’s 16 Sections will include details pertinent to your work, these sections are summarised and explained below.    Safety Data Sheet example

    Identification: Product identifier and chemical identity

    Contains: Product identifier, manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number, emergency phone number, recommended use, and restrictions on use.

    Hazard(s) identification

    Contains: All health, physical, and environmental hazard statements and precautions required for the chemical or gas. This includes the required label elements according to the chemical’s GHS* classification.

    *GHS – Globally Harmonised System for classifying chemicals, an international standard for classifying chemical hazards and the required precautions.
    A handy poster explaining the GHS hazard classes is available from SafeWork Australia and has been reproduced here.

     

    Composition and information on ingredients

    Contains: Information on chemical ingredients and trade secret claims and CAS numbers for the precise identification of ingredients

    First-aid measures

    Contains: Required first aid treatment for exposure to a chemical and the symptoms (immediate or delayed) of exposure.

    Fire fighting measures

    Contains: The techniques and equipment recommended for extinguishing a fire involving the chemical and hazards that may be created during combustion. Note specific fire extinguishers are needed for some classifications of chemicals. Never fight a fire unless you are trained and confident to do so, always raise the alarm and evacuate to safety.

    Accidental release measures

    Contains: Steps to take in the event of a spill or release involving the chemical. Includes: emergency procedures, protective equipment and proper methods of containment and clean-up.

    Handling and storage, including how the chemical may be safely used

    Contains: Precautions for safe handling and storage including chemical incompatibilities. Incompatible substances must be segregated to reduce the risk of dangerous reactions, refer to section 10.3 of the Chemical Management Plan for details.

    Exposure controls and personal protection

    Contains: Permissible exposure limits (PELs), threshold limit values (TLVs), appropriate engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

    If an SDS states  that  extraction or ventilation systems  are required for handling a chemical, you will need a fume cupboard or similar extraction equipment.

    PPE advice in the SDS will list specific types of gloves to use with the chemical. It is important to follow this advice as each type of glove will not protect you against every chemical. This glove compatibility chart and the following online resource from Ansell may help you in determining the best glove for handling a specific chemical.

    Physical and chemical properties

    Contains: The chemical’s characteristics including appearance, odour, solubility, density, vapour pressure, flash point, melting and boiling points, explosive properties, etc.

    Stability and reactivity

    Contains: Chemical stability and possible hazardous reactions. Time sensitive chemicals will list here the mechanisms of hazard degradations, such as the risk of forming organic peroxides by-products over time.

    Toxicological information

    Contains: Routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or absorption on contact), symptoms, acute and chronic effects, and numerical measures of toxicity.

    This section often contains a number of specific medical terms to detail the acute (immediate) and chronic (long-term) health effects of the chemical, you may find the following brief glossary of terms useful in deciphering these terms:

    • Asphyxiant - Is a gas or vapour that can cause unconsciousness or death by suffocation (asphyxiation) due to lack of oxygen.
    • Carcinogen – Is any substance or agent having the potential to cause cancer.
    • Cyanosis – Is a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.  Some chemicals and gases can starve you of oxygen by displacing oxygen molecules in your red-blood cells, leading to cyanosis.
    • Irritant – A chemical that is not corrosive but that causes a reversible inflammatory effect on living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact.
    • Mutagen - Is a physical or chemical agent that causes a change in the DNA of a cell. These changes may harm cells and cause certain diseases, such as cancer.
    • Organ toxicity – Are chemicals that can cause adverse effects or disease in specific organs of the body.
    • Sensitising agent – Is a chemical that causes allergic reaction in normal tissue after exposure to radiation.
    • Teratogen - A drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a foetus, causing birth defects.
    • Topical – A topical administration means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes to treat ailments
    • Toxic – Is something poisonous or very harmful to humans or animals.

    Ecological information

    Contains: How the chemical can pollute land, waterways, and the atmosphere. Includes effects on animals and plant life, impact on sewage processing plants, and the duration of environmental impact.

    Disposal considerations

    Contains: Information on the safe handling of wastes and methods of disposal, including the disposal of any contaminated packaging.

    Transport information

    Contains: Packing, marking, and labelling requirements for hazardous chemical shipments. This specifically includes the Dangerous Goods (DG) classification, subsidiary risks, packing groups, U.N Chemical number, and Hazchem code.

    A handy document explaining the relationship of DG hazard classes to GHS hazard classes is available from SafeWork Australia and has been reproduced here.

    Regulatory information

    Contains: Information on the regulations that apply to the chemical, this includes: Poisons & Medicines classifications, and licensing requirements.

    Any other relevant information 

    Contains: The date of the SDS preparation or last revision, manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous chemicals must review and update any SDS they produce at least every five years. Will also contain any other information chosen by the manufacturer/supplier such as glossary of terms, recommended training prior to handling the chemical, and references.