This reference cannot tell you how to handle a particular product. Read the current product SDS, receive workplace training and follow the applicable procedure. Practice scenarios below are fictional.
Practise SDS questions →The SDS section map
Canadian SDSs use a fixed sequence of 16 headings. The short descriptions below are our lookup cues, not a substitute for the full contents.
| No. | Heading | Look here for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identification | Matching the product and supplier |
| 2 | Hazard identification | Classification and label information |
| 3 | Composition / ingredients | Listed ingredients |
| 4 | First-aid measures | Exposure response information |
| 5 | Fire-fighting measures | Fire-related guidance |
| 6 | Accidental release measures | Release and spill information |
| 7 | Handling and storage | Routine use and storage |
| 8 | Exposure controls / personal protection | Controls and protection information |
| 9 | Physical and chemical properties | Product characteristics |
| 10 | Stability and reactivity | Reactions and incompatibilities |
| 11 | Toxicological information | Health effects |
| 12 | Ecological information | Environmental information |
| 13 | Disposal considerations | Disposal information |
| 14 | Transport information | Transport information |
| 15 | Regulatory information | Regulatory information |
| 16 | Other information | Revision information |
First check that the document matches
Before using a sheet, compare its product identifier with the container. Similar names or uses do not establish that two products have the same formulation. If the match is unclear, stop and ask the responsible person at work for the correct document.
In a study question, the product name may be easy to overlook because the answer choices mention gloves or spill cleanup. Practise checking identity first; then find the relevant section. This is a reading strategy, not permission to handle an unfamiliar product.
Original lookup exercises
Try answering these without rereading the table, then check the heading. Each question asks where to look, rather than what treatment or protective equipment to choose.
- You need to confirm the supplier: begin at Identification.
- You need information about a splash exposure: locate First-aid measures and follow workplace emergency procedures.
- You need to review routine storage: locate Handling and storage, then check Stability and reactivity for incompatibilities.
- You need to review protective measures: locate Exposure controls / personal protection and consult the workplace procedure.
A heading does not guarantee complete instructions
The headings for sections 12–15 are required, but Canadian supplier rules allow their information to be omitted. A blank entry does not mean the product is harmless. Ask for clarification when information needed for your task is missing.
Source: CCOHS — Safety data sheets ↗Build a useful study habit
Instead of memorizing an isolated section number, pair a heading with a question you might need answered. Explain why a question about routine storage belongs somewhere different from one about emergency exposure.
Use our original SDS quiz to practise the distinctions. If you make a mistake, return to the heading and say what information it is meant to organize. Completing a quiz does not replace employer training or establish that you can safely use every hazardous product.