Storing chemicals

When you receive any chemical it may be supplied with a safety data sheet (SDS). This is sometimes also referred to as a material safety data sheet. The SDS contains information about the chemical including:

• how to store and use it safely
• chemicals it is incompatible with, for example that you should not store it with
• how to dispose of it safely

When you receive a chemical, check the SDS to find out how to store it safely. If you receive a chemical without an SDS, contact your supplier to find out whether or not they have to provide one.

Understand hazard labels

If the chemical you receive is hazardous it should have a hazard label on it. These labels contain chemical hazard warning symbols that tell you what the risks of a chemical or product are. The hazard label will tell you whether a chemical is:

• explosive
• an oxidising agent
• flammable
• toxic
• harmful
• an irritant
• corrosive
• dangerous to the environment

You should ensure that you and your staff are familiar with the hazard labels - find more information on chemical labelling and packaging.

Mark vehicles that transport chemicals

If you carry chemicals in your vehicle, you must label your vehicle with the appropriate hazard warning label for those chemicals.

If you transport dangerous chemicals you must meet further requirements for packaging, labelling and documentation - read about carriage of dangerous goods.

Manufacturing and supplying chemicals

If you manufacture or supply chemicals you may need to provide an SDS to your customers. This is now a requirement of the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation.

Download approved classification and labelling guidance (PDF, 517K).