Safety Data Sheet Management
A critical component of the Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s commitment to effective hazard communication and chemical safety practices is ensuring that Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are readily accessible, accurate, and maintained for all hazardous chemicals used, stored, or handled on UNE campuses.
UNE manages Safety Data Sheets as part of its comprehensive Chemical Management program through the SciShield Chemical Inventory and SDS Management System, which serves as the University’s centralized electronic repository for chemical inventory and SDS information. This system supports compliance with the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and UNE’s Chemical Hygiene Plan by providing real‑time access to SDSs for employees, students, emergency responders, and other authorized users.
Maintaining an accurate and up‑to‑date SDS inventory supports safe chemical use, informed risk assessments, emergency response planning, and regulatory reporting. All individuals who procure, use, move, or dispose of chemicals are responsible for ensuring that chemical inventory records and associated SDS information are accurately maintained in SciShield in accordance with UNE policies and procedures.
Environmental Health and Safety provides oversight, guidance, and training related to SDS management and works collaboratively with the UNE community to promote awareness, accessibility, and consistent application of chemical hazard information across all University operations.
An SDS will be maintained for every hazardous substance used on campus. SDSs at UNE can be found in the SciShield Chemical Inventory System through Okta or in the V:Drive. You can sometimes find an SDS for a substance on the manufacturer’s website, and the manufacturer should send a paper copy whenever you receive a new substance from them. All new SDSs will all have the same format, including the following 16 sections:
Section 1. Identification
Section 2. Hazard(s) identification
Section 3. Composition/information on ingredients
Section 4. First aid measures
Section 5. Fire-fighting measures
Section 6. Accidental release measures
Section 7. Handling and storage
Section 8. Exposure controls/personal protection
Section 9. Physical and chemical properties
Section 10. Stability and reactivity
Section 11. Toxicological information
Section 12. Ecological information
Section 13. Disposal considerations
Section 14. Transport information
Section 15. Regulatory information
Section 16. Other information, including date of preparation or last revision
Sections 12–15 may be included in the SDS but are not required by OSHA.
Below are some of the pictograms you will see on chemical containers and SDSs that describe the hazards associated with a substance.
HCS Pictograms and Hazards
