Which document is critical for understanding the hazards associated with chemicals?

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is essential for understanding the hazards associated with chemicals because it provides comprehensive information about the chemical's properties, including its hazards, safe handling practices, and emergency response measures. These sheets are designed to inform users about specific substances, detailing their physical characteristics, toxicological effects, and guidelines for safe use and storage. This makes the MSDS a vital tool for ensuring safe handling and awareness of potential risks when working with hazardous materials.

In contrast, other documents mentioned, like the Safety Audit Report, focus on compliance and the evaluation of practices within an organization, but they do not provide detailed chemical-specific hazard information. The Environmental Impact Statement addresses broader environmental concerns rather than specific chemical hazards, and the Incident Report Form is used to document occurrences after they happen rather than to provide proactive safety information. Thus, the MSDS stands out as the critical document needed to understand the specific hazards associated with chemicals.