For those who use Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to create standard operating procedures and risk assessments, it is crucial that these documents not only comply with regulatory requirements but also provide current, accurate information. Despite claims that the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Hazardous Chemicals (GHS) would enhance the readability, clarity, and consistency of information in SDSs, academic studies indicate that significant misinformation and misunderstandings about the GHS and its regulations still exist. The GHS revisions serve as a framework that national competent authorities may adopt, either wholly or in part, and implement alongside their respective work health and safety and dangerous goods legislation. In 2019, the European Chemicals Agency reported that a large percentage of SDSs failed to meet compliance requirements or accurately reflect essential information. Key details, such as product identifiers, emergency telephone numbers, and identified uses, were often missing, and some SDSs contained incorrect or incomplete GHS classifications.
Current research suggests that many safety statements in SDSs are generic and not relevant to the specific chemicals involved. Despite this, policymakers continue to pursue initiatives to expand the toxicological body of knowledge, often overlooking that one of the primary means of communicating health hazards to workers has shifted from an effective communication tool to a mere compliance checkbox.
Drawing on several case studies, including glyphosate, lithium-ion batteries and acryloyl chloride, this presentation examines the challenges faced by those who rely on SDSs to protect workers and respond to emergencies.