BIH: Is BTL/STL for chemicals a burden or a fundamental communication tool?

What does a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) mean to you when it comes to chemicals?

Sometimes, manufacturers and importers of chemicals view this document as an unnecessary burden, while users of chemicals just toss it aside with other useless papers. I've encountered such attitudes.

The SDS is a fundamental document for every chemical. It serves as the primary communication tool to present the chemical to the user. It includes all essential information about the chemical, such as:

• intended use,
• hazard classification and labeling,
• composition,
• first aid measures,
• procedures in case of fire or spillage,
• personal protective equipment details,
• handling and storage recommendations,
• disposal and transport information, etc.

The creation of an SDS in Bosnia and Herzegovina is mandated by the Law on Chemicals of the Republic of Srpska and the Law on Chemicals of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. These laws specify when this document needs to be prepared.

The laws state that an SDS is not required for chemical mixtures marketed in their finished form as:

• medications and medical devices used in human and veterinary medicine,
• cosmetic products,
• food and animal feed, food additives and flavors, and animal feed supplements.

This document is crucial for establishing work procedures, planning preventive measures, responding to accidental situations, and planning adequate workplace protection.

There are some cases where the SDS does not need to be provided to the chemical user. This applies to chemicals intended for general use if adequate information is provided to users in another way (via labels). This information should be sufficient for the correct use of the chemical and for taking appropriate protective measures.

Keep in mind: if a user requests an SDS for such a chemical, you are obliged to provide it.

It's very important that the information on chemical product labels aligns with the SDS, especially when intended for general use. Hazard labeling must be consistent across all chemical documents.

You might be concerned about the volume of documents you need to provide to customers or unsure where to store the SDS for all the chemicals you use. There is a solution: the chemical supplier can provide the SDS in electronic form (by sending a file or a direct link to the file).

This means that a paper version does not need to be available if access to the electronic version of the document is provided to everyone handling the chemical.

This aligns with sustainability standards, the general trend of business digitalization, and the anticipated introduction of digital product passports.

Systems for creating SDSs like our Chemius allow for easy sharing of documents (data) with all interested parties. You don't have to worry about which is the latest valid version of the document.

Chemius ensures that you always have up-to-date documentation in one place and can track all document changes. Document traceability is very important, especially when you have different product batches on the market that may have different labels.

If you want to check out what Chemius offers, we can create a free document for you. Contact me at nina.pajovic@bens-consulting.eu.