What is a "safety data sheet"?

A "safety data sheet" (SDS) is specifically designed to provide crucial information regarding the hazards associated with chemicals. This document outlines various aspects of chemical safety, including the identification of the chemical, its potential hazards, handling and storage guidelines, emergency measures, and procedures for disposal. The primary aim of an SDS is to ensure that workers understand the risks they may encounter while handling specific substances and the proper precautions they should take to minimize these risks.

The other options, while relevant to safety in the mining environment, do not accurately define what a safety data sheet is. A list of approved chemicals focuses on regulatory compliance rather than hazard communication. A record of miners' safety training pertains to the training history of the workers rather than chemical information. A guide for emergency evacuation procedures is about physical safety protocols rather than the chemical hazards themselves. Thus, the understanding of an SDS is vital for ensuring the safety of miners when dealing with hazardous materials in the coal mining industry.