The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a detailed fact sheet summarizing information about a chemical's hazardous ingredients; health, physical and fire hazards; emergency procedures and first aid; chemical reactivity and incompatibilities; spill, leak and disposal procedures and protective measures required for safe handling and storage. The objective of an MSDS is to concisely inform you about the hazards of the materials you work with so that you can protect yourself and respond to emergency situations.

**Online MSDS Resources**
Laboratory Chemicals
CCOHS MSDS Database - This database system is maintained by the Candian Centre for Occupation Health & Safety and provides MSDSs for laboratory and non-laboratory chemicals.
CHEMINDEX/CHEMpendium - A comprehensive chemical hazard information resource
Sigma-Aldrich MSDS Search - This system is maintained by Sigma-Aldrich and provides MSDSs for all Sigma-Aldrich chemicals.
VWR Scientific MSDS Search - This system is maintained by VWR Scientific and provides MSDSs for all chemicals distributed by VWR.
Trade and Custodial Chemicals
- An MSDS search engine for building trade and custodial chemicals. To access, you must be on the Harvard University computer network.
MSDS Provider - A list of Manufacturers Web sites with MSDS's.
MSDS Search - A list of Manufacturer's Web Sites with MSDS's.
Airgas - One of the University's vendor partners (for containerized gasses)
Seton Compliance Resource Center - Numerous commercial products and an MSDS search engine.