What organization requires a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to be included with hazardous chemicals?

The requirement for a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to be included with hazardous chemicals is enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA established the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), which mandates that employers must provide information about the identities and hazards of chemicals they use through appropriate labels and safety data sheets. The SDS contains essential information about the handling, storage, and emergency measures related to specific hazardous substances.

This standard is fundamentally important for ensuring workplace safety, as it allows employees to understand the substances they might be exposed to and the potential health risks associated with them. The SDS plays a crucial role in educating workers on proper safety measures, personal protective equipment requirements, and incident response protocols, thus creating a safer work environment.

Other organizations mentioned have different regulatory focuses. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deals primarily with environmental protection matters, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food safety, medications, and cosmetics, and the Department of Health typically oversees public health initiatives. None of these are specifically tasked with the regulation of hazardous chemical information in the same way that OSHA is, which is why OSHA is the answer.