Environmental Health & Safety
Laboratory Safety Unit
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
What is the purpose of a Safety Data Sheet?
Safety Data Sheets are fact sheets for hazardous chemicals which are developed by the manufacturer to communicate the hazards of the specific chemical, provide guidance for protecting the user from exposure under normal conditions of use and during emergencies (e.g. handlind, storage, personal protective equipment) and, per federal regulations, must be readily available for all chemicals defined as hazardous.
Safety Data Sheets are available to the University community electronically through any of the options listed below:
- Velocity EHS
- CampusOptics - NEW! program - For more information on this, please visit the CampusOptics information page at https://secure1.rochester.edu/safety/restricted/labsafety/campusoptics/campusoptics.html
- Through EH&S by either calling 275-3241 or email questions@safety.rochester.edu
- Doing a quick Google search using your preferred web browser to obtain an SDS (MSDS) for your specific chemical or product
- In addition, the manufacturer or vendor is often an excellent resource for the specific SDS for the product you are using.
Environmental Health & Safety strongly encourages locations using highly hazardous chemicals (e.g. acutely toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic, carcinogenic, reproductive hazards) to keep paper copies of SDSs on site in case of emergency.
Directions for obtaining a Safety Data Sheet through the CampusOptics program:
- Log into CampusOptics Safety Data Sheets Page - https://rochester.campusoptics.com/sds with your University Active Directory user name and password
- Search the Safety Data Sheet library using the product name, manufacturer, CAS number, or product code to find the SDS
- You may narrow the results by choosing the "Advanced" tab next to the "Basic" tab
- Click on the Chemical name to access the Link or PDF and may be downloaded and/or printed.
Options for obtaining Safety Data Sheets during an Emergency:
- See options listed above
- Contact Environmental Health & Safety at 275-3241, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
- Contact Public Safety at ext. 13 after hours and on weekends
Emergency information regarding exposures to chemicals is also available 24/7 by calling the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
For a quick explanation of the type of information included on a Safety Data Sheet, refer to the OSHA website - Quick Card Reference - Safety Data Sheets.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
Contact EH&S at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.
This page last updated 7/17/2025. Disclaimer.
