Safety Data Sheets

Safety Data Sheets, or SDS's, provide useful information about a chemical's properties along with important health and safety data for users. In addition, other important information about the chemical manufacturer, fire-fighting procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and spill clean-up procedures is provided.  Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to provide SDS's with all shipments.  It is the employer's responsibility to make this information available to their employees.

Employers are also required to maintain SDS's for all hazardous chemicals in the workplace. This information must be readily accessible to all employees during the work shift.  Employers must ensure that when a new product or chemical is brought into the workplace that employees are provided with the information from the SDS and are provided with training on the hazards of the new chemical.  This information is available to Columbia University personnel via the web-based service, ChemWatch.

ChemWatch is fast and easy to use:

For Onsite Access:

  • Open this link:  ChemWatch Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - Online Search
  • Enter any information into one of the search boxes, for example, the chemical name, chemical CAS#, or supplier/vendor name
  • Select the correct entry from the list provided
  • Review, print, save or send the SDS using the available icons on the screen

For Remote Access:

The Columbia University Hazard Communication Program manual can be reviewed by visiting the Policy section of the EH&S homepage. If you have questions about handling or protecting yourself from a particular chemical or product, please contact the EH&S office at (212)854-8749 (MS) or (212)305-6780 (CUIMC) or send e-mail to [email protected] (MS) or [email protected] (CUIMC).

ChemWatch Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - Online Search