Who is responsible for obtaining the Material and Safety Data Sheets?

The responsibility for obtaining the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), now commonly referred to as Safety Data Sheets (SDS), falls to the employer. Employers are required to maintain and make accessible the SDS for all hazardous substances used within the workplace. These sheets provide important information about the properties of each chemical, including hazards, safe handling procedures, and emergency response measures, ensuring that employees have the necessary information to work safely with hazardous materials.

Employers have the legal obligation to provide a safe work environment, which includes training employees about the risks associated with the use of chemicals and the necessary precautions to take. This includes ensuring that the SDS are readily available and that staff understand how to interpret and utilize the information contained in these sheets effectively. In this context, the other options are not appropriate because they do not assume the responsibility for compliance with safety regulations regarding hazardous materials.