Using an Online MSDS Hosting Service?

Written by: Rob Hallsworth

Published on: 29 March 2023

What you need to know when looking for an online msds hosting service

Using an Online MSDS Hosting Service?

Here are 5 questions to see if you're getting what you pay for!

If you are paying someone to host your MSDSs you should know if they are doing a good job. Here are 5 questions you can ask to see if they are:

  1. What is the date of the oldest (M)SDS in your collection?
  2. How many duplicate (M)SDSs do you have?
  3. How many (M)SDSs are more than 7 years old?
  4. How many sheets less than 7 years old are in the old MSDS format?
  5. Can you answer the above questions in under 5 minutes?

Here are the answers for a client we recently onboarded. For the previous 5 years they had been using a large multi-national provider. For the 5 years prior to that they had been using a different large, multi-national provider.

What is the date of your oldest sheet? – November 12, 1987

For a sheet to be that old 3 things have to happen – the supplier has never updated the sheet; you have not fully used the contents of the bottle; the shelf life of the product is at least 35 years.

Is a sheet that was created when the Berlin Wall was still standing required?

How many duplicate sheets do you have? – 10%

These are the easiest sheets to eliminate. You don’t need 2 copies or versions for the same product.

How many sheets are more than 7 years old? – 40%

We've reviewed all the sheets greater than 7 years old:

  • 60% - newer version available
  • 10% - the existing sheet was still the most current
  • 30% - product is no longer available

Said differently, 90% of these sheets needed work to assess, that you were paying the previous hosting company to do. But it didn't get done.

How many sheets less than 7 years old are MSDSs? – 5%

These sheets became obsolete in 2018. They should have been updated to SDSs.

Can you answer the above questions in under 5 minutes? – Yes

Transparency of information is critical to good health and safety. If you can’t answer these simple questions right away what else are you missing? And are you getting what you are paying for?

Would you be happy getting 50% of what you paid for?

Everyone is trying to reduce costs by asking SDS management providers to reduce their costs per sheet. You should be asking them to help you reduce the number of sheets. For this client 25% of the sheets they were paying for were not required. And 25% of the sheets required updating.

Contact us if you would like online, transparent SDS management and chemical safety software.



New Posts

Bladder cancer risks at work

By Lisa Hallsworth

Safety Data Sheet Updates: 5 Steps for Success

By Rob Hallsworth

When Do You Need to Update Your Safety Data Sheets?

By Rob Hallsworth



You're a snap away from a safer workplace

Try SDS RiskAssist for free today. No commitments, obligations, or payment information needed.

Easy onboarding

Upload your SDS collection and see your dashboard summary.

Assess hazards

In seconds you'll know what products to focus on, such as those that may cause cancer.

Control hazards

Use our tools to find safer

products & customize chemical handling instructions.

Train workers

Provide chemical-specific training where it’s needed with automated SafetySnaps & on-demand modules.

Sustain success

Keep your system up to date and integrated with other workplace software seamlessly.

Request Demo

Get your free demo of SDS RiskAssist

SDS RiskAssist COS Mag winner 2024 SDS management software

Find out what you don't know about the chemicals in your workplace and make chemical safety a snap.


No commitments. No payment required. View our privacy policy here.

Send your request and we'll respond back by email within 24 hours

Get a demo of the most sophisticated SDS Management software

One week away from a safer workplace


Thanks for helping us win!

SDS RiskAssist COS Mag winner 2024 SDS management software
SDS RiskAssist wins 6th Readers' Choice Award
2022 Readers' Choice Award Badge
2021 Readers' Choice Award Badge
2020 Readers' Choice Award Badge
SDS RiskAssist™ 2019 COS Mag Award Winner's Badge SDS Management Solutions
SDS RiskAssist an Ontario-based company that uses the power of technology to give employers control and understanding over the otherwise pervasive and worrisome use of chemicals. SDS RiskAssist enables workers to know why chemicals are being used, what their benefits and hazards are and how to use them safely! Workers can access this knowledge via mobile or desktop SafetySnaps™, from anywhere in the world. SDS RiskAssist is the winner for 5 years running, of Readers’ Choice Awards by Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine (2018-2022); the 2019 Innovation Guelph Startup of the Year Award; the 2019 Quinte Business Achievement Award (Trailblazer category) and The Ottawa Network’s 2020 Bootstrap Award (SaaS category). We support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, working with our clients to take action for a sustainable planet.