What is the difference between an SDS and a Safety sheet?

Short answer

An SDS (Safety Data Sheet) describes the source of risk as a product.
A Safety sheet describes how the source of risk should be handled safely in your organisation.

Both are important — but they are used for different purposes.

What is an SDS (Safety Data Sheet)?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is usually produced by the manufacturer of a source of risk, for example the producer of an external chemical product.

An SDS includes, for example:

• chemical composition and classification

• physical and chemical properties

• hazardous properties

• stability and reactivity

• recommendations for handling, storage, and disposal

• information about personal protective equipment

• measures to take in case of an accident

An SDS is therefore a standardised document describing the product.

What is a Safety sheet?

A Safety sheet is a document that describes:

• the risks involved in a specific work task
  or

• the risks related to general handling of a source of risk

The Safety sheet is based on the risk assessment and is designed to be:

• easy to understand

• practical in everyday work

• directly usable for the person performing the task

It includes, for example:

• how the work should be carried out safely

• which protective measures are required

• what to do in the event of an incident (e.g. a splash in the eye)

• what to avoid

• which routines apply in your organisation

The most important difference

A simple way to remember the difference:

• SDS = information from the manufacturer about the product

• Safety sheet = your organisation’s adapted instructions for safe handling

Why do you need both?

The SDS is the foundation, but it is often:

• long

• technical

• difficult to use in everyday work

• not adapted to how you actually work

The Safety sheet fills the gap between:

• “what the product is” (SDS)
  and

• “how we use it safely” (Safety sheet)

Example

You use an adhesive in production.

• The SDS describes the adhesive’s hazardous properties and chemical composition.

• The Safety sheet describes how the adhesive should be handled in your work task, for example:

  • ventilation

  • protective gloves

  • what to do in case of a spill

  • disposal routines

  • what to do in case of splashes