Are Your SDS Sheets in Order? Why Every Pressure Washing Company Needs to Take This Seriously

SDS Binder

If you’re running a pressure washing business and you’re using chemicals — which you absolutely are — you need to have SDS sheets on-site and accessible.

Not just for show. Not buried in your email.

Physically available and ready for inspection.

This isn’t a “nice to have.”It’s the law.

And ignoring it could cost you — not just in fines, but in safety, credibility, and protection for your team.

What Is an SDS Sheet?

SDS stands for Safety Data Sheet.

It’s a standardized document that tells you everything you need to know about a chemical product — including:

• 🚨 Hazards (flammability, corrosiveness, inhalation risk)

• 🚑 First aid measures

• 🧪 Proper handling and storage

• ♻️ Disposal procedures

• 🧯 Firefighting info

• 🛡️ PPE recommendations

Every product you use — from sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to degreasers, surfactants, acids, or even basic soap blends — should come with one.

If it doesn’t? Request it from the supplier or don’t use it.

What Does OSHA Require?

According to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), any business that uses or stores hazardous chemicals must:

1. Have SDSs for every hazardous chemical on hand

2. Make them readily accessible to employees at all times

3. Train employees on how to read and use the SDS

4. Keep SDSs updated and organized

Failure to comply can result in fines of up to $15,625 per violation (as of 2023), plus potential shutdowns or legal action if an accident occurs.

Why This Matters for Pressure Washing Companies

In our industry, we use chemicals every day that can:

• Burn skin

• Irritate lungs

• Damage eyes

• React dangerously if mixed improperly

Your team needs to know what to do if something goes wrong — and that information lives on the SDS.

It’s not just about compliance.

It’s about safety. Professionalism. And protecting your people.

Real Talk: Are You Ready for an Inspection?

If OSHA or a local inspector walked up to your trailer today and said:

🧾 “Can I see the SDS for the bleach you’re using?”

Would you have it ready?

• In a binder? ✅

• Printed and labeled? ✅

• Sorted by product? ✅

• Easily accessible to your crew? ✅

If not, it’s time to fix that — before you get caught unprepared.

Pro Tip: Keep a Binder in Your Rig

Here’s what I recommend:

📁 Print SDS sheets for every chemical you use regularly

📎 Put them in a binder, sorted alphabetically

🧊 Keep a copy in your truck, trailer, or rig — not just at home

📲 If you go digital, make sure it’s downloaded and available offline

Also — train your crew on how to find and use them.

We Cover This (and More) at the Panhandle Pressure Washing Expo

At the Panhandle Expo, we don’t just teach spraying technique.We teach the business — and safety — side of this industry.

✅ OSHA compliance

✅ Chemical handling

✅ PPE and SDS protocols

✅ How to protect yourself legally and professionally

If you’re scaling your business or hiring a crew, this knowledge is non-negotiable.

🎟️ Register today for the Panhandle Pressure Washing ExpoLearn how to run a clean business — in every sense of the word.

👉 Click here to grab your ticket