# Hazard communication and SDS

URL: https://hardhatbinder.com/en/toolbox-talks/hazard-communication
Last updated: 2026-10-23

Every day we work with products that can hurt us: concrete additives, solvents, adhesives, fuel, sealers, cleaners. The label and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) tell you what's in it, how it can hurt you, and what to do if something goes wrong. Before you open a container this week, know what you're handling.

## Key points

1. Read the label before you use a product. Look for the signal word (Danger or Warning), the pictograms, and the precautions.
2. Know where the SDS binder or SDS app is on this job. If you can't find the SDS for a product, ask before you use it.
3. Check the SDS for the PPE you need: gloves, goggles, face shield, or respirator. Wear it the whole time you handle the product.
4. Never pour a chemical into an unlabeled container, like a water bottle or a bucket. If you transfer it, label the new container with the product name and hazards.
5. Keep lids closed, and don't mix products unless the instructions say so. Some mixes, like bleach and ammonia, make toxic gas.
6. Know the first aid section of the SDS and where the eyewash and water are. If a chemical gets on your skin or in your eyes, rinse right away and tell the foreman.
7. If a label is torn, faded, or missing, report it so it can be replaced. Don't guess what's inside.

## Talk it over

- What chemical products are we using on this job right now, and which one worries you the most?
- Where are the SDSs kept on this site, and has anyone actually opened one this month?
- Have you seen any unlabeled containers or chemicals stored wrong around here? What should we do about them?

> **Remember:** If you don't know what it is, don't use it: read the label, check the SDS, and ask.

## Official sources

- [29 CFR 1926.59](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.59) — Hazard communication
- [29 CFR 1910.1200](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1910.1200) — Hazard communication (GHS)

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Source: HardHat Binder, operated by Leadspire LLC. Templates to be reviewed by a competent person before use; not legal advice; not affiliated with OSHA.