What is essential information contained in an MSDS?

The essential information contained in a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), now referred to as a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), primarily includes the physical and chemical characteristics of the material. This information is crucial for understanding how the substance behaves under different conditions and informs how to handle, store, and dispose of the material safely. This section typically covers details such as boiling points, flash points, reactivity, solubility, and other critical properties that help ensure safety in operations involving the material.

While other options listed may provide valuable information in certain contexts, they do not pertain to the primary purpose of an MSDS. For instance, corporate policy statements would be relevant to a company's internal procedures but are not a standard component of safety data sheets. Similarly, although supplier contact information is useful, it serves more as an auxiliary detail rather than core essential information critical for safety measures. Lastly, financial implications of usage relate to cost considerations and potential liabilities but are not addressed in the safety data sheets, which focus solely on health and safety aspects related to the materials.