What Is a Safety Data Sheet?
A safety data sheet (SDS) is the standardized, 16-section document that OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires for every hazardous chemical in the workplace. It tells employees what the hazards are, how to handle and store the product, what PPE to wear, and what to do in an emergency.
In a dealership, that covers brake cleaner, degreasers, paint and clearcoat, refrigerant, battery acid, tire sealant, adhesives, and anything else with a hazard label that comes through the parts department. The manufacturer writes the SDS. Your job is to keep a current copy for each product and make sure employees can find and use it.
When a technician gets brake cleaner in their eye, and it will happen, it’s important to be educated on the hazards of that chemical and the next steps that should be taken.
SDS vs MSDS: What Is the Difference?
OSHA replaced the material safety data sheet (MSDS) with the GHS-aligned SDS in 2012, so MSDS is now a legacy term. Any old MSDS binder should be replaced with current SDSs for every chemical you still use.
|
Term
|
Format
|
Section Order
|
Legal Status
|
What the Employer Should Do Now
|
|
MSDS
|
No required format; varied by manufacturer
|
No fixed order
|
Replaced; not acceptable for chemicals still in use
|
Swap each one for the current SDS
|
|
SDS
|
Standardized 16 sections aligned with GHS
|
Same order on every sheet
|
Required under the Hazard Communication Standard
|
Keep a current SDS for every hazardous chemical on site
|
Much of the information overlaps. What changed is the order. Because every SDS follows the same sequence, a body tech and a detailer can find first aid or PPE guidance in the same place on any sheet, from any supplier.
The standard is still changing. OSHA updated the Hazard Communication Standard in 2024, and suppliers are issuing revised SDSs. Employers have until November 20, 2026, to update workplace labels, written programs, and training for newly identified hazards in substances, and until May 19, 2028, for mixtures. When an updated SDS arrives, replace the old one.
What Are the 16 Sections of a Safety Data Sheet?
- Identification
- Hazard(s) identification
- Composition/information on ingredients
- First-aid measures
- Fire-fighting measures
- Accidental release measures
- Handling and storage
- Exposure controls/personal protection
- Physical and chemical properties
- Stability and reactivity
- Toxicological information
- Ecological information
- Disposal considerations
- Transport information
- Regulatory information
- Other information
Sections 12 through 15 must appear on the sheet, but OSHA doesn't enforce their content because other agencies regulate those areas. For the bigger picture, see our FAQs on the hazard communication standard. Three sections do most of the work in a shop:
Section 4: First-Aid Measures
This section says what to do right after exposure. If brake cleaner splashes a technician's face in a service bay, Section 4 says how long to flush the eyes and when to get medical help.
Section 7: Handling and Storage
This section covers safe storage conditions and incompatible materials. It's how the parts department knows which products can't share a shelf, and how the paint mixing room knows how to store flammable thinners and reducers.
Section 8: Exposure Controls and Personal Protection
This section lists exposure limits, ventilation needs, and PPE. The body shop uses it to choose respirators and ventilation for spraying clearcoat. The detail bay uses it to pick gloves and eye protection for acid wheel cleaners.
How Do Dealership Departments Use Safety Data Sheets?
- Service: Technicians check first aid and PPE for brake cleaner, coolant, and A/C refrigerant, and use Section 6 when something spills in the bay.
- Body Shop: Painters rely on Section 8 for respirator and booth ventilation choices, and Section 5 tells everyone how to fight a fire involving flammable paints and solvents.
- Detail: Detailers check glove and eye protection for acids and degreasers, and Section 10 flags cleaners that react badly when mixed.
- Parts: Parts staff use Section 7 to shelve products safely and make sure every new chemical has an SDS on file before it goes out to the shop.
Collision centers handle more chemicals than most departments, which is why SDS access is a core part of body shop compliance.
Where Must Employees Be Able to Access Safety Data Sheets?
Employees need immediate access to the SDS for every hazardous chemical in their work area, during every shift, without asking a manager for a key or a password. A binder in a locked office doesn't meet that standard.
Digital-only access works if it's just as immediate: a device or terminal in the work area that every employee can use and knows how to search, plus a backup, like a printed set or an offline copy, for when the power or internet goes down. In a dealership where service, body, detail, and parts work in different buildings or on different systems, test access in each department, not just the main shop.
Employees must also be trained to find and read the SDS for the chemicals they use, when they're hired, and whenever a new hazard is introduced. A current chemical inventory makes all of this easier, so see our guide to SDS management for shops.
How KPA Helps Manage SDS Access and Training
Across multiple rooftops, SDS binders drift out of date, and departments end up with different versions of the same sheet. KPA gives automotive employers one place to manage SDS access, chemical records, compliance tasks, and training. SDS management software keeps sheets current and searchable from the shop floor, online safety training covers hazard communication for every role, and consultants check that access works where the chemicals are actually used. It's all part of our EHS and OSHA compliance approach.
So, the tech with brake cleaner in their eye gets the right answer in seconds, not after someone finds the key to the office.
Safety Data Sheet FAQs
Are MSDS sheets still OSHA compliant?
No. The MSDS is the pre-2012 format, and OSHA requires a current SDS for every hazardous chemical in use.
Can a dealership keep safety data sheets digitally only?
Yes, if employees can get to them immediately in their work area on every shift, and if there's a backup for when power or systems are down.
How long does an auto shop need to keep safety data sheets?
OSHA treats SDSs as exposure records. Keep the SDS, as well as your complete chemical inventory, for a minimum of 30 years.
