A Safety Data Sheet sign tells workers where the Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals used or stored in the facility are located. The workers have a right to access that information and the Safety Data Sheet sign makes sure they can find it without having to ask around.

OSHA requires that Safety Data Sheets be readily accessible to workers during their work shifts. Posting a sign that clearly identifies where they are kept is one of the practical ways to meet that accessibility requirement and demonstrate compliance during an inspection.

A Safety Data Sheet sign should be posted near the Safety Data Sheet binder, cabinet or kiosk where the sheets are physically stored. Common locations include break rooms, near chemical storage areas at the entrance to warehouse sections where chemicals are used, on supervisor offices and at employee stations. Some facilities post multiple Safety Data Sheet signs pointing workers to the nearest Safety Data Sheet location from different parts of the building.

The Safety Data Sheet sign can point workers to the computer terminal, tablet or kiosk where the digital system is accessed. OSHA allows electronic Safety Data Sheet management as long as there are no barriers to employee access, meaning the system is always available during working hours and employees know how to use it.

The Safety Data Sheet sign itself points to a location, not to chemicals. What needs to be updated is the Safety Data Sheet collection itself. Every time a new chemical comes into the facility, its Safety Data Sheet needs to be added to the system, and workers need to be informed. The Safety Data Sheet sign stays relevant long as it is pointing to the right place.

For small facilities, one centrally located Safety Data Sheet sign is often sufficient. For warehouses with multiple zones, departments, or buildings, having a Safety Data Sheet sign in each section makes access faster and more practical, which is ultimately what the regulation requires.

The signs come in different sizes. Some common sizes for hazard signs are 3.5" x 5", 5" x 7", 7" x 10", 10" x 14" These sizes ensure that the signs are visible and easy to read. These signs need to be big enough to grab people's attention and small enough to fit in the space available.