Who is responsible for providing the MSDS or SDS of a cleaning solvent?

The responsibility for providing the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for a cleaning solvent lies with the employer. Employers are required to ensure that their employees have access to the necessary safety information regarding any hazardous materials they might encounter in the workplace. This includes the duty to maintain a library of SDSs for all chemicals used or stored at the facility, which helps ensure that employees can understand and mitigate potential hazards associated with these substances.

While manufacturers do produce and provide the SDSs when they distribute their products, it becomes the employer's duty to make these documents accessible to their workforce. This is part of the employer's broader obligation to provide a safe working environment and to meet regulatory compliance under occupational health and safety regulations. Hence, while the manufacturer provides the initial documents, it is ultimately the employer's responsibility to ensure they are available in the workplace.