Safety data sheets in the UK and Ireland: new 2026 data reveals a growing access gap
Our 2026 workplace safety report uncovers significant differences in how UK and Ireland workers access chemical safety information, from digital systems and QR codes to basic SDS awareness. Discover the key findings on hazardous chemical handling, safety data sheet access, and stalling substitution efforts, plus three actions every employer should take.
According to EcoOnline’s 2026 Workplace Safety Report, nearly half of workers in the UK and Ireland handle hazardous chemicals, yet many still can’t quickly access the safety data sheets designed to protect them.
Here’s what our 2026 workplace safety report reveals, and what it means for employers:
44% of UK and Ireland workers handle chemicals requiring a safety data sheet (SDS) which is below the global average of 51%.
Ireland lags the UK on nearly every measure of chemical safety information access: digital systems, QR code access, and simply knowing where to find SDS.
Most concerningly, more than one in three Irish workers (36%) don’t know where to find SDS in their workplace, versus fewer than one in four in the UK.
Hazardous chemical substitution efforts have stalled, slipping from 63% to 62% across the UK and Ireland between 2025 and 2026.
The good news: these gaps are fixable. Centralised, digital SDS management, QR-enabled access, and structured substitution programmes can close them fast.
Introduction
Safety data sheets (SDS) are the backbone of workplace chemical safety. They tell workers what they’re handling, how to handle it safely, what to do in an emergency, and how to store hazardous substances correctly. But a safety data sheet only protects people if they can actually find it and understand it when it matters most.
EcoOnline’s 2026 Workplace Safety Report reveals a concerning truth: across the UK and Ireland, access to chemical safety information is uneven, and in some areas, progress has stalled altogether. While the UK is pulling ahead in digital access, Irish workers are increasingly at risk of being left behind.
UK vs. Ireland chemical safety at a glance
Metric
UK
Ireland
Hanlde chemicals required an SDS
46%
38%
Digital access to chemical safety information
71%
64%
Everyone has access to a digital chemical management system
66%
48%
Can access safety info via a QR code
71%
55%
Know where to find SDS
76%
64%
Active hazardous chemical substitution (2026)
64%
50
Table of contents
Click on a specific section below to navigate to that area:
How many workers actually handle hazardous chemicals?
According to the 2026 data, 44% of workers across the UK and Ireland handle chemicals in the workplace that require a safety data sheet. That’s nearly one in every two employees coming into contact with substances hazardous enough to demand formal safety documentation.
Breaking this down by country reveals a clear gap:
46% of UK workers handle chemicals requiring an SDS
38% of Irish workers handle chemicals requiring an SDS
Interestingly, both countries sit below the global average of 51%. On the surface, lower exposure to hazardous chemicals sounds like good news; but it can also create a false sense of security. When hazardous substances are handled less frequently, organisations sometimes deprioritise the systems, training, and documentation needed to manage them safely, leaving workers underprepared on the occasions they come into contact with dangerous chemicals.
Lower exposure doesn’t mean lower risk. It means the risk is less visible, and that’s often more dangerous.
The digital divide: who can access chemical safety information?
One of the most striking findings in the report is the widening gap between the UK and Ireland when it comes to digital access to chemical safety information.
When asked whether they could access chemical safety information through a digital system:
71% of UK workers said yes
64% of Irish workers said yes
The gap grows even wider when we look at whether everyone in the workplace has access to a digital chemical management system. Among workers who handle chemicals:
66% of UK workers agree everyone has access
Only 48% of Irish workers agree
That means fewer than half of Irish workers handling hazardous substances believe their colleagues have reliable digital access to chemical information. When access is inconsistent, safety becomes a matter of luck rather than process, and that’s precisely the kind of gap that leads to incidents.
Why does digital access to Safety Data Sheets matter?
A safety data sheet is only useful if it’s available at the point of need. Workers dealing with a spill, an exposure, or an unfamiliar substance can’t afford to wait while someone searches through a filing cabinet or an out-of-date binder. Modern chemical safety management software centralises SDS, keeps them up to date, and makes them instantly accessible from any device, ensuring the right information is always a few clicks away.
QR codes: a simple fix with a big impact
QR codes have emerged as one of the most practical tools for closing the chemical safety information gap. By linking a physical container or workspace directly to a digital safety data sheet, they give frontline workers instant access to critical information, no logins, no searching, no delays.
The report shows the UK is well ahead here:
71% of UK workers can access safety information by scanning a QR code.
Just 55% of Irish workers can do the same.
This 16-point gap is significant. QR-enabled SDS access is especially valuable in fast-moving, mobile, or high-risk environments, warehouses, manufacturing floors, laboratories, and construction sites, where workers need answers immediately. For Irish organisations in particular, QR code adoption represents a low-cost, high-impact opportunity to bring chemical safety information directly into workers’ hands.
The most concerning finding: do workers even know where to find SDS?
Perhaps the most alarming statistic in the entire report relates not to technology, but to something more fundamental: knowing where the safety data sheets are.
76% of UK workers know where to find SDS in the workplace
Only 64% of Irish workers say the same
That means more than one in three Irish workers may not know where to locate a safety data sheet when they need one. In an emergency or crisis, involving a chemical burn, an inhalation incident, or an accidental mixture of incompatible substances, that knowledge gap can be the difference between a controlled response and a serious injury.
Every safety data sheet contains life-critical guidance, including:
Hazard identification for the substance
Safe handling and storage requirements
First-aid measures for exposure
Firefighting and spill-response procedures
Personal protective equipment (PPE) recommendations
If workers can’t find this information quickly, the SDS may as well not exist. Accessibility and awareness must go hand in hand with compliance. A dedicated SDS management system ensures every safety data sheet is accessible in seconds, no matter the site or shift.
Have efforts to substitute hazardous chemicals stalled?
Beyond access to information, the report examined whether employers are actively working to substitute hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives, one of the most effective ways to reduce risk at the source.
The findings suggest momentum has stalled, and in some cases slightly reversed:
Across the UK and Ireland, 63% of workers reported active substitution efforts in 2025, dropping to 62% in 2026.
At a national level, the picture is the same:
United Kingdom
2025: 66% agreed hazardous chemicals were being actively substituted
2026: 64% agreed
Ireland
2025: 52% agreed
2026: 50% agreed
While these declines are small, the direction of travel is what matters. Substitution sits near the very top of the hierarchy of controls, above engineering controls, administrative measures, and PPE, because it eliminates the hazard entirely rather than simply managing it. When substitution efforts lose momentum, organisations become more dependent on lower-order controls that are more prone to human error.
The message for employers is clear: reducing reliance on hazardous substances shouldn’t be a one-off initiative. It requires continuous review, and the right data to identify where safer alternatives are possible. Purpose-built chemical substitution software makes it easier to compare alternatives, document the process for regulators, and keep substitution moving forward.
Three actions employers should take now
The 2026 data points to three clear priorities for organisations across the UK and Ireland:
1. Digitise and centralise your safety data sheets
Paper-based and fragmented SDS systems are the root cause of most access gaps. A centralised, cloud-based library, ideally within dedicated safety management software, ensures every safety data sheet is current, compliant, and available on demand across every site and device.
2. Make access instant and universal
Closing the gap isn’t just about having SDS, it’s about making them reachable at the point of use. QR codes, mobile access, and clear signage ensure that every worker, not just health and safety teams, can find the right information in seconds. The goal should be 100% awareness of where SDS live.
3. Reignite your chemical substitution programme
With substitution efforts flatlining, now is the time to revisit your chemical inventory. Use digital tools to flag high-risk substances, identify safer alternatives, and track substitution progress over time. Removing a hazard entirely is always more effective than managing it.
The bottom line
The 2026 workplace safety report tells a story of uneven progress. The UK is steadily building a more accessible, digital-first approach to chemical safety, while Ireland risks falling behind on nearly every measure, from SDS awareness to QR code access to digital chemical management.
But these gaps are entirely fixable. Safety data sheets, digital access, and hazardous substance substitution aren’t competing priorities; they’re interconnected parts of a single, modern approach to chemical safety. Organisations that invest in centralising their SDS, making information instantly accessible, and actively reducing hazardous substances won’t just improve compliance. They’ll protect the people who matter most.
Discover more insights about chemical safety, crisis management, lone worker safety, as well as ESG and sustainability in EcoOnline’s 2026 Workplace Safety Report now:
Frequently asked questions
What is a safety data sheet (SDS)
A safety data sheet is a standardised document that provides detailed information about a hazardous chemical or substance. It covers the product’s hazards, safe handling and storage procedures, first-aid and firefighting measures, and required personal protective equipment. SDS are a legal requirement for hazardous substances used in the workplace and form the foundation of effective chemical safety.
Why is access to safety data sheets so important?
An SDS only protects workers if they can access it quickly when they need it, especially during an emergency such as a spill or exposure. The 2026 report found that only 64% of Irish workers know where to find SDS, compared to 76% in the UK, highlighting a critical gap. Instant, reliable access to safety data sheets can be the difference between a minor incident and a serious injury.
What’s the difference between a safety data sheet and a chemical safety data sheet?
The terms are used interchangeably. Both refer to the same standardised document detailing the hazards and safe-use information for a chemical or hazardous substance. “Safety data sheet” (SDS) is the current internationally recognised term, having replaced the older “material safety data sheet” (MSDS).
How can employers improve access to chemical safety information?
Employers can digitise and centralise their SDS using safety management software, enable QR code scanning at the point of use, and ensure all workers, not just safety teams, know where to find safety information. The report shows that digital systems and QR access significantly improve how quickly workers can reach critical chemical data.
What is a hazardous chemical substitution?
Substitution is the practice of replacing a hazardous chemical with a safer, less harmful alternative. It sits at the top of the hierarchy of controls because it eliminates a risk at its source rather than simply managing it. The 2026 data shows substitution efforts have stalled slightly, from 63% to 62% across the UK and Ireland, signalling a need for renewed focus.
How does safety management software help with chemical safety?
Safety management software centralises safety data sheets, keeps them up to date, and makes them instantly accessible across devices and locations, often via QR codes. It also helps organisations track their chemical inventory, flag high-risk hazardous substances, and manage substitution programmes, supporting both compliance and worker protection.
