Plain answers about SDS management.
From starting an inventory to employee access, pricing, labels and compliance—the questions customers ask us most often.
Getting Started & Building Your Inventory
How do we actually start the process or buy the service?+
The easiest way to get going is to schedule a live demo with us.
That’s where we set everything up for you — right out of the gate.
Here’s what happens on that call:
We create your custom SDS portal (yourcompany.sds.center) right there on the spot.
We walk you through the basics of how to use it — adding chemicals, searching, scanning barcodes, etc.
You’ll see both service levels (Toolbox vs. Autopilot) in action so you can pick what makes sense for your workload and budget.
When you’re ready, we’ll help you choose a library size and activate your account.
There’s no shopping cart, no confusing checkout flow, no guesswork.
Just book a demo, and we’ll take it from there.
Can I see the system without scheduling a demo?+
Yep — no problem at all.
If you just want to poke around and get a feel for how things work, you can jump straight into our SDS Toolbox sandbox and try it out yourself right now:
In the sandbox you can:
Search and view SDSs
Upload files
Try the indexing workflow
See how the admin dashboard feels
Experiment at your own pace
There’s no setup, no login, and no commitment.
It’s simply a hands-on way to see what our DIY Toolbox experience is like before booking a live demo.
Do we have to start from scratch to build our SDS inventory?+
No. You’ve got options.
You can walk your sites with your phone and scan everything, upload lists or PDFs you already have, or search our 1.2M-document community library. Most folks use a mix of all three.
If we already have binders or a spreadsheet, can we import that?+
Yes. If you have a list of product names and manufacturers, you can upload it as a CSV and the system will prefill the “pending chemicals” for you. From there, you just attach the SDS or send it to us (if you’re using Autopilot).
How does your system prevent duplicates?+
When you inventory with your phone or add items manually, the system automatically looks for matches in your existing library. If WD-40 is already in your inventory, we won’t create another one — we just tag the new location to it.
What if a chemical doesn’t have a barcode?+
You can type the name and manufacturer manually and snap a photo — the picture helps avoid mix-ups (like “lemon vs. fresh breeze” versions).
Accessing SDSs (Employees & Field Use)
Do employees need an app or login?+
No app. No password.
It’s just a website (e.g., yourcompany.sds.center) that anyone can open instantly.
Does it work on phones?+
Yes. The whole system is designed for mobile — scanning QR codes, searching, viewing SDS PDFs, all of it.
Can employees scan a UPC/barcode to pull up an SDS?+
Yes. They tap the little camera icon on the portal, point their phone at the product’s barcode, and if it’s in your library, the SDS loads instantly.
What if it’s not in the library yet?+
They’ll get a “no SDS found” message and a button to Request Missing SDS.
This sends the chemical to your admin queue so nothing slips through the cracks.
Compliance Questions (OSHA/JCAHO/etc.)
Is this OSHA-compliant?+
Yes. We hit the three big pillars of HAZCOM:
Availability: Employees can instantly access SDSs from any device.
Inventory: You build and maintain a compliant chemical inventory.
Documentation: You can export everything you need (inventory, SDSs, labels).
Do we still need paper binders?+
OSHA does not require binders — just access.
But if your inspectors prefer paper, you can create binder-style PDFs or print SDSs anytime.
What if the power or Wi-Fi goes out?+
You have three options:
Use our offline tablet mode (download SDSs to a device).
Keep a printed backup binder if you want.
OSHA also allows telephone transmittal — meaning staff can call a designated person who reads the SDS information over the phone.
Autopilot vs Toolbox (Who Does the Work?)
What’s the difference between Toolbox and Autopilot?+
Think of Toolbox as DIY and Autopilot as done for you.
Toolbox: You upload or choose SDSs and index them yourself.
Autopilot: You scan or type the chemical name → we do the rest:
Find the SDS
Contact manufacturers
Index the data
Update everything every six months
Toolbox saves money; Autopilot saves time (and sanity).
Can we start with Autopilot and downgrade later?+
Yes, you can downgrade at the end of your annual term.
You can upgrade anytime.
Locations, Permissions & Scalability
Do we pay extra for additional facilities or departments?+
No. Unlimited locations. Build out your structure however you want.
Can we assign admins by department or site?+
Yes. You can give people:
Full admin access,
Limited access to specific locations, or
No admin access (employees only).
Can we separate chemicals by property/department?+
Totally up to you. Some people keep everything in one big list; others break it down into:
Departments
Geographical Regions
Retail Locations
Apartment properties
Use whatever structure makes sense for how you operate.
SDS Documents & Updates
How often are SDSs updated?+
If you’re on Autopilot: every six months, automatically.
If you’re on Toolbox: you’ll update them manually whenever you choose.
What if the community library has an older SDS?+
On Autopilot, we always go to the manufacturer to get the newest version.
The community library is just a convenience – great for speed, not guaranteed to be the latest.
Labels & Printing
Do your secondary container labels meet GHS requirements?+
Yes — fully compliant.
Do we need a special printer or special label stock?+
No. You can print on:
Avery labels
Any standard office printer
Plain paper + tape (works fine)
Do your labels include QR codes?+
Yes. Every label contains a QR code that jumps straight to the SDS for that product.
Binders & Exports
Can we download all our SDSs at once?+
Yes. Use the “With Selected → Download Zip” tool.
Can we create printed binders with a table of contents?+
Absolutely. The system can generate a full binder PDF automatically.
Can we export our inventory into Excel?+
Yes, with one click.
Excel exports include:
Master inventory
Optional per-location tabs
Pictograms
Manufacturer info
Part numbers/aliases
Training Your Employees
Do you train our employees?+
Yes, you can schedule live web- based training for your administrators. For your general employees we provide documentation to help with the SDS system portion of your HazCom training.
You still handle:
How to read an SDS
Chemical hazards in your work areas
Your internal safety policies
Do you have training materials we can use?+
Yes, we include a 3-page “Employee SDS Instructions” handout you can drop right into your HAZCOM training.
Your Administrators will find our Full Administrative Guide helpful for all SDS management functionality.
Pricing
How do you price your service?+
Pricing is based on:
Your total number of SDSs in the active library
Whether you use Toolbox or Autopilot
- If you want your SDS’s translated into different languages
Nothing else affects price — not locations, not users, not storage.
Do we pay per SDS we add?+
No. You buy a maximum library size (e.g., 250 SDSs, 500 SDSs).
You can upgrade anytime if you outgrow it.