Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Software & Management Solutions

Frequently asked questions

1. What is SDS management software?

SDS management software is much more than just an electronic binder where you can group the SDSs of all your chemical products in your workplace.

It is a tool that allows you to comply with regulatory requirements.

For example, in Quebec, section 52 of the Act respecting occupational Health and safety (OSHA) requires that each employer, “in accordance with the regulations, keep and maintain a register of risks connected with certain jobs, identifying, in particular, the contaminants and dangerous substances connected with certain jobs, and a register of the risks connected with the kind of work performed by each worker in his employ.” A good SDS management software will be able to provide you with these lists of products present in the workplace with their classifications.

Also according to the OSHA, “no employer may allow a hazardous product to be used, handled or stored in a workplace unless the product has a label and a safety data sheet that comply with this subdivision and the regulations under it” (s. 62.1). With a SDS management software, not only will all your SDSs be grouped in one place, but the employees will be able to print compliant labels for these products.

2. What is the best SDS management software?

The advantages of the Kalium software include its user-friendly interface and its product summary page which will provide you with the WHMIS2015/HCS2024 classification as well as the transport classification.

The software will also allow you to print your WHMIS and workplace labels in various formats. On the printed labels, the addition of a QR code allows quick access to the SDS. No more searching in a dusty binder or having problems accessing the computer. Simply scan the QR code with an electronic device equipped with a camera and the SDS will be available in seconds.

The Kalium software’s user will also have access to a list of all its products with their WHMIS classification, which meets the obligation of section 52 of OSHA. This precise list, with classes and categories, will also be very useful during the WHMIS training given to employees. A second list, this one classified in transport, is also available, an asset in the event of an incident involving firefighters, and a precious tool for the safe storing of your products.

A list of first responders and an emergency response plan can be added to the Kalium software to make it YOUR resource in the event of an incident. Internal operating procedures can also be added to each product’s file.

The Advantage of Kalium software: each SDS, before being downloaded in the software, is validated by a chemist. Our team of experts will carefully check your safety data sheets to ensure that no dangerous elements have been forgotten in order to guarantee a better protection for the health and safety of your employees.

3. What is the cost of renting SDS software?

Costs vary starting at $225 per month and depending on the chosen options.

4. What is the purpose of Kalium Solutions’ SDS management Software?

We want our SDS management software to become your go-to tool for health and safety compliance regarding dangerous goods.  
It will allow you to:

• Consolidate all your SDSs in one place, make them quickly accessible to all your employees;
• Keep previous versions of SDSs when you update them;
• Be able to access a summary page;
• Print WHMIS or workplace labels, both with a QR code, for all your products;
• Issue reports by hazard classes and others;
• Include your emergency response plan and list of first responders, and much more.

5. Is the SDS Management Software compliant with WHMIS, OSHA, GHS, and CLP standards?

Yes, our SDS Management software meets all the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws and regulations that apply depending on the jurisdiction, including Canada's WHMIS (2022), the US HCS 2024, or the European CLP. As for the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals), these are UN recommendations that are used by different countries as a basis for their respective regulations (WHMIS, HCS, CLP, etc.). When importing SDSs into our software, our team of experts also ensures that the SDSs comply with WHMIS, HCS, or CLP, depending on the jurisdiction in which your company is located. 
As SDS writers, WHMIS and TDG trainers, the Kalium team is extremely qualified to validate your SDS.

OHS requirements include, among others:

• Keeping a record of hazardous products present at each workstation;
• Making the SDS for all products available to employees;
• The obligation to label all products on site and replace damaged labels.

As SDS writers, WHMIS and TMD trainers, the Kalium team is very qualified to validate your SDS.
Our software will be able to simplify your task since it will allow you to meet all of these requirements and even more easily at a lower cost.

6. Does the SDS Management Software allow multilingual Safety Data Sheets?

Yes, the SDS management software allows you to centralize the SDSs for all products present in your workplace, including raw materials, intermediates, finished products, in-house solutions, and cleaning and maintenance products. It can hold SDSs in multiple languages quickly accessible from anywhere using a QR code. It allows to remove the burden of keeping your paper binder up to date.
For SDS authoring, we have a SDS authoring software that allows the generation of SDS in 6 languages that covers 13 countries. It can be integrated into our SDS management system, which will allow all your employees to access it easily.

7. How often are regulatory updates applied in the software?

Our team of experts conducts rigorous regulatory monitoring to ensure that our software is always up to date with the latest versions of the various regulations covered, such as OHS, WHMIS, HCS, CLP, and many others. 

About updating SDSs hosted in our SDS Management software, suppliers must update their SDSs:

• When there is a change in formulation;
• When new data or studies become available or;
• When there is a regulatory update, such as the 2022 revision of WHMIS or the 2024 revision of HCS.

The frequency of verification by our team of experts can be tailored to our clients' needs. While we maintain flexibility, we advise clients to review all Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) at least every two years to ensure that their hosted versions remain current, given the continual emergence of new information.  This service is also offered turnkey at a fraction of the original price.

8. Are there prerequisites for using the SDS Software?

Our software is very user-friendly, so there are no prerequisites for use. However, on the first day of your rental, one of our employees will assist you in familiarizing yourself with the SDS Management software. Tutorials are also available 24/7, directly in the software. Our team is also available by email and phone.

9. Is the SDS Software available online, or does it require installation?

Our SDS software is cloud-based software, also known as Software as a Service (SaaS). No installation is required; all you need is an internet connection. It is therefore accessible 24/7, wherever you are.

10. What formats can Safety Data Sheets be exported or printed in?

To use our software, you must import your SDSs in PDF format. They will open automatically in this format. You can then save or print them as you wish. In addition, our software will generate a list of your products with associated QR codes. By simply scanning this code, you can access the SDSs directly on your phone or tablet, without having to open our SDS management software.