SDS vs MSDS: What Changed and Why It Matters

Short answer: an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is the current, GHS-aligned format with a fixed 16-section order; an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the older, non-standardized format OSHA retired when it adopted GHS in 2012. The information is similar, but every SDS now follows the same structure, so a sheet from one manufacturer looks like a sheet from any other. If you still have binders labeled “MSDS,” replace them with the manufacturer's current SDS. Here's what changed and why it matters.

MSDS: the old way

The Material Safety Data Sheet had no required structure. Each manufacturer organized it however they liked, so finding first-aid steps or storage requirements meant hunting through a different layout every time. Quality and completeness varied wildly.

SDS: the GHS-aligned standard

When OSHA aligned the Hazard Communication Standard with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) in 2012, the MSDS became the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) with a mandatory 16-section format in a fixed order. Employers had to complete the transition by June 1, 2015. The 16 sections are:

1. Identification
2. Hazard(s) identification
3. Composition / information on ingredients
4. First-aid measures
5. Fire-fighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and storage
8. Exposure controls / personal protection
9. Physical and chemical properties
10. Stability and reactivity
11. Toxicological information
12. Ecological information
13. Disposal considerations
14. Transport information
15. Regulatory information
16. Other information

Why the standardization matters

Because the order is fixed, anyone can find the same information in the same place under stress — first aid is always Section 4, handling and storage always Section 7, PPE always Section 8. GHS also standardized the hazard classifications, signal words ("Danger" / "Warning"), pictograms, and hazard/precautionary statements, so the warnings mean the same thing everywhere.

What to do with old "MSDS" files

For products you still use, replace any pre-2015 MSDS with the manufacturer's current SDS. For discontinued products, you may still need to retain the historical record — see how long to keep safety data sheets. SDSentry stores the current SDS for each product in your inventory and can locate most by name or UPC, so refreshing an old binder into a clean digital library is straightforward.

Modernize your SDS library — free trial

Educational information only, not legal or compliance advice. Verify current requirements at osha.gov/hazcom or with a qualified safety professional.