What is the primary purpose of the hazard communication standard?

Last updated 2026-07-10

What is the primary purpose of the hazard communication standard?

The Hazard Communication Standard, codified at 29 CFR 1910.1200 and commonly called HazCom or the "Right to Know" law, has one clear job: make sure workers understand the hazards of the chemicals they use at work before those chemicals hurt them.^[1]

OSHA states this plainly in the standard's own purpose clause. The regulation says its goal is "to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are classified, and that information concerning the classified hazards is transmitted to employers and employees."^[1] That transmission happens through labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and training. Those three elements are the whole architecture of the standard.

Before HazCom took effect in 1983, there was no federal requirement for chemical manufacturers to tell downstream employers or workers what was actually in their products. Workers mixed, poured, and breathed substances without knowing whether they were caustic, carcinogenic, or flammable. The standard changed that by creating a legal chain of information from chemical manufacturer to distributor to employer to worker.

The purpose is preventive. OSHA's regulatory history for the 2012 update notes that the agency expected the GHS-aligned revision to prevent roughly 585 fatalities and 43,000 injuries per year once fully implemented.^[2] Those are not hypothetical numbers. They come from the agency's own regulatory impact analysis published in the Federal Register.

Who does the hazard communication standard apply to?

Any employer in general industry whose workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals during normal working conditions or in a foreseeable emergency is covered by 29 CFR 1910.1200.^[1] A parallel standard at 29 CFR 1926.59 covers construction. Maritime sectors have their own counterpart rules.

OSHA estimates roughly 43 million workers at about 5 million workplaces are covered.^[2] That spans manufacturing, warehousing, agriculture, healthcare, automotive repair, janitorial services, and nearly every other industry that touches a chemical product. If you use cleaning solvents, lubricants, fuels, adhesives, or even many welding materials, you are covered.

The standard applies to chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and downstream employers. Each link in that chain has different duties. Manufacturers and importers must classify hazards and create the label and SDS. Employers must obtain SDSs for every hazardous chemical they use, keep them accessible, maintain proper labels on containers, and train workers.^[1]

One carve-out worth knowing: consumer products used in the same way and at the same frequency as a normal consumer would use them are generally exempt. A can of WD-40 that an office worker grabs once a month falls outside the standard. A shop that goes through a case of it a week does not get that exemption.^[1]

Why was the hazard communication standard created in the first place?

Before the federal standard, chemical hazard information was treated as proprietary. Manufacturers often withheld ingredient lists under trade secret claims. Workers had no legal right to know what they were breathing or absorbing, and physicians treating chemical exposures sometimes could not get ingredient information fast enough to help their patients.

OSHA first issued the Hazard Communication Standard in 1983, initially covering only the manufacturing sector. It expanded to all industries in 1987. A major revision in 1994 standardized many provisions. Then, in 2012, OSHA aligned the standard with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), which is the version in effect today.^[2]

The 2012 GHS alignment was the biggest change in the standard's history. It replaced the old material safety data sheets with a standardized 16-section SDS format, swapped inconsistent label formats for a specific set of pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements, and set defined rules for how chemical hazards get classified in the first place.^[2]

The rationale was partly domestic and partly global. American workers handle products made all over the world, and one international classification language makes it easier for everyone, from a factory in Ohio to a port worker in Houston, to read a label or SDS correctly regardless of where the product originated.

For more context on how OSHA's enforcement authority and rule-making work, see our overview of osha and what does osha stand for.

What are the three core requirements employers must meet under HazCom?

The standard builds its purpose on three pillars. Each one targets a different failure mode that historically let chemical injuries happen.

Labels on every container. Every container of a hazardous chemical must display a label with the product identifier, supplier information, pictograms indicating the type of hazard (flame, skull-and-crossbones, health hazard, etc.), a signal word ("Danger" or "Warning"), hazard statements, and precautionary statements.^[1] Employers who transfer chemicals into smaller workplace containers must also label those secondary containers, with limited exceptions for portable containers used immediately by the person who fills them.

Safety Data Sheets for every chemical. SDSs follow a mandatory 16-section format under GHS. Section 1 is identification. Section 2 lists hazard classification. Section 8 covers exposure controls and PPE. Section 11 covers toxicological information.^[1] Employers must keep SDSs accessible to workers during every shift, which in practice means either a binder in a known location or an electronic system workers can actually reach without a password hunt. For an example of how these sheets work in practice, see our article on the hcl safety data sheet.

Training before workers start. Workers must be trained before they are assigned to work with hazardous chemicals, and again when a new hazard is introduced to their work area.^[1] Training must cover how to read and use labels and SDSs, the physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area, and the measures workers can take to protect themselves, including PPE, work practices, and emergency procedures. For guidance on building that training into a broader program, our osha training article is a good starting point.

All three requirements tie together with a written hazard communication program, the document that describes how your specific workplace runs each of the three pillars.^[1]

What does the written hazard communication program have to include?

The written program is where most small employers stumble, partly because OSHA's language is dense and partly because there is no official template.

At minimum, 29 CFR 1910.1200(e) requires the written program to explain: how your workplace handles labeling of containers (including secondary containers and pipes), how you manage and provide access to SDSs, and how you train employees.^[1] It must also include a list of all hazardous chemicals present in the workplace, which you identify using your SDS inventory.

The program does not need to be long. A realistic written HazCom program for a small shop runs four to eight pages. What matters is that it reflects your actual workplace, not generic boilerplate downloaded from the internet without editing. If your program says you store SDSs in a binder by the main entrance but the binder is actually in a locked office, you have a documented lie that will hurt you in an inspection.

OSHA inspectors ask to see the written program first. If you do not have one, you face a citation under 1910.1200(e) before the inspector even looks at your labels or SDS binder. The maximum penalty for a serious violation in 2024 runs up to $16,131 per violation.^[3]

This is exactly the kind of document SafetyFolio's safety program generator is built to produce. The generator walks you through your chemical inventory, work processes, and training approach, then outputs a written program tailored to your workplace in about 15 minutes. That is genuinely faster than reading OSHA's compliance guidance cover to cover.

How does HazCom relate to GHS, and why does that matter for your business?

GHS stands for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. It is a United Nations framework, not an OSHA creation. OSHA adopted GHS into the Hazard Communication Standard in its 2012 revision, with full compliance required by June 1, 2016 for most employers.^[2]

For practical purposes, GHS is what defines the current label format and SDS format. The nine GHS pictograms (flame, exploding bomb, corrosion, skull-and-crossbones, etc.) are standardized globally, which means a worker who can read a GHS label in the United States can read one on a product from Germany or Japan. That matters in industries with global supply chains.

The 2012 revision also standardized hazard classification criteria. Before GHS alignment, a chemical might be called a "moderate irritant" by one manufacturer and a "corrosive" by another, even if the underlying data were the same. GHS provides defined criteria for each hazard category and severity level, so classification is more consistent.

One thing that trips up employers: the 2012 revision changed what the sheets are called. "Material Safety Data Sheet" or "MSDS" became simply "Safety Data Sheet" or "SDS." The old 8-section MSDS format is no longer compliant. If you still have old MSDS binders without the 16-section format, you need to update them. Suppliers must provide current GHS-compliant SDSs on request.

OSHA's current GHS-aligned HazCom page explains the classification system and provides a table of pictograms with their associated hazard classes.^[2]

What chemicals are covered, and which ones are exempt?

The standard covers any chemical that is a physical hazard or a health hazard.^[1] Physical hazards include flammability, explosibility, reactivity, and oxidizing properties. Health hazards include acute toxicity, skin corrosion, respiratory or skin sensitization, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, and several others. The GHS classification system defines each category with specific criteria.

Exemptions under 29 CFR 1910.1200(b) include: hazardous waste regulated under RCRA (which has its own labeling scheme), tobacco products, wood and wood products that have not been processed and do not present a hazard beyond the wood itself, articles (solid objects where the chemical does not get released under normal use), foods and drugs regulated by FDA in consumer contexts, and consumer products used as a normal consumer would use them.^[1]

A few exemptions that often surprise employers.

Natural gas piped into a facility for fuel is covered if workers could be exposed to it. Welding fumes are covered, even though the base metal before welding might not be. Diesel fuel is covered. Gasoline is covered. If you run a fleet or a maintenance shop, those products need SDSs on file and labels on any containers you fill.

Dust from wood that has not been processed does not automatically fall under HazCom, but wood dust is regulated under OSHA's general dust and air contaminant rules, and certain wood dusts (like oak and beech) are classified as human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.^[4] So the HazCom exemption for wood does not mean you ignore the hazard. It means a different set of rules may apply.

How does HazCom enforcement work, and what do inspections look for?

HazCom is consistently one of the top five most frequently cited OSHA standards. In fiscal year 2023, OSHA cited Hazard Communication violations 3,213 times, making it the second most-cited standard overall.^[3]

During an inspection, an OSHA compliance officer will typically ask to see your written hazard communication program, your chemical inventory or SDS binder, a sample of container labels in your work areas, and evidence of employee training, usually sign-in sheets or training records.^[5]

The most common deficiencies OSHA finds:

1. No written program, or one that is clearly a generic download with no site-specific information. 2. SDSs missing for chemicals present in the facility. 3. Containers with no label or with an old, non-GHS label. 4. No documented training records, or training that covered only one part of the requirement (for example, showing workers where the SDS binder is but never covering how to read one). 5. SDSs that are not accessible during all work shifts, particularly in facilities using electronic SDS management where workers lack computer access.

Penalties for serious violations run up to $16,131 per violation in 2024.^[3] Willful or repeated violations can reach $161,323 per violation. An inspection that finds five missing SDSs and an inadequate written program could easily add up to a $30,000 to $50,000 penalty event for a small business.

For a broader look at how OSHA inspections work and what triggers them, see our incident report article, which covers when you have to notify OSHA after a workplace event.

How does the hazard communication standard interact with other OSHA rules?

HazCom does not stand alone. It connects directly to several other major OSHA standards, and understanding those connections prevents compliance gaps.

The lockout tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147) governs control of hazardous energy, including energy from pressurized chemical systems. If your facility has chemical feed systems or pressurized lines, both standards apply to the same equipment.

OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134) comes into play whenever an SDS for a chemical indicates that airborne exposure is a hazard. The SDS Section 8 on exposure controls often references OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs), and if engineering controls do not keep workers below those limits, a respiratory protection program is required.

PPE requirements (29 CFR 1910.132) tie directly to SDS Section 8, which specifies what gloves, eye protection, or other gear the chemical requires. The PPE standard requires a written hazard assessment, and the SDS is one of your primary inputs for that assessment.

Process Safety Management (29 CFR 1910.119) applies to facilities with highly hazardous chemicals above specified threshold quantities. If your chemical inventory includes substances on OSHA's PSM chemical list in quantities above threshold, PSM piles far more extensive requirements on top of HazCom.

Here is the through-line. HazCom information, specifically the hazard classification and SDS data, feeds your broader safety program. A strong SDS management process makes writing your PPE hazard assessments, your emergency action plan, and your training programs easier because the chemical hazard information is already organized.

What does effective hazard communication training actually look like?

OSHA requires training before initial assignment to work with hazardous chemicals and when a new hazard is introduced. But the standard does not specify the format, length, or method.^[1] That flexibility is both a help and a trap.

The trap is that employers often check the box with a 10-minute video and a signature page. That satisfies the paperwork requirement but misses the point. OSHA's training requirement at 1910.1200(h) says training must include "methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical," the physical and health hazards of chemicals in the work area, protective measures workers can take, and how to read and use the label and SDS.^[1] A generic video that does not cover the specific chemicals in your workplace does not fully meet that standard.

Effective training in practice looks like this. Workers can walk you to the SDS binder or system and find a specific SDS without help. They can tell you the hazard for a chemical they use daily. They know what PPE to use for that chemical and why. They know what to do if there is a spill. That is the test.

For facilities with workers who have limited English proficiency, OSHA has stated in multiple letters of interpretation that training must be provided in a language the worker understands.^[6] You can provide English SDSs as long as training covers the content in the worker's language.

Documentation matters for inspection purposes. Keep training records that include the date, the topics covered, the trainer's name, and each worker's signature. Three years is a common retention period, though OSHA does not specify one for HazCom training records specifically.

For workers who need a broader safety credential, osha 30 training and the osha 30 courses cover HazCom as part of a wider curriculum.

What are the penalties for HazCom violations, and how common are they?

Hazard Communication was the second most-cited OSHA standard in fiscal year 2023, with 3,213 citations across all industries.^[3] That ranking has held for years. It is cited so often partly because violations are visible and easy to document during an inspection, and partly because many employers genuinely underestimate how detailed the requirements are.

OSHA adjusts maximum penalties annually based on the Consumer Price Index. As of 2024, the maximum penalty per serious violation is $16,131. Other-than-serious violations cap at the same amount. Willful or repeated violations can reach $161,323 per violation.^[3]

For a small business, a single inspection citing three or four HazCom violations at the serious level can result in $20,000 to $40,000 in penalties before any informal conference reduction. OSHA does offer penalty reductions for small employers (fewer than 25 workers can qualify for a 60% reduction), for good faith efforts, and for quick correction after citation.^[5]

The bigger cost is often not the fine. Chemical injuries from poor communication are expensive. The average workers' compensation claim for a chemical burn or exposure event runs into the tens of thousands of dollars, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that skin exposure disorders and respiratory conditions from chemical exposure result in thousands of lost-workday cases per year.^[7]

OSHA's regulatory impact analysis for the 2012 GHS revision estimated the updated standard would produce roughly $2.8 billion in benefits annually through reduced injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, against a compliance cost of about $201 million annually.^[2] Those figures put HazCom among the higher-return workplace safety requirements on the books.

How do small businesses build a compliant hazard communication program without a consultant?

The honest answer is that HazCom compliance for a small business is not complicated in concept, just tedious in execution. The conceptual work is straightforward. Inventory your chemicals, collect SDSs for all of them, make sure containers are labeled, write a program document, and train your workers. The tedium is in actually doing all of it and keeping it current when products change.

Start with your chemical inventory. Walk every work area and list every chemical product. Include cleaning products, lubricants, fuels, adhesives, paints, and anything else with a label that says it is hazardous. For each product, make sure you have a current GHS-compliant SDS (16 sections, a signal word, pictograms). Your supplier must provide one on request.

Then write your program. OSHA has a free sample plan available through its website that you can use as a starting template, but you must customize it.^[5] Generic programs that do not name your workplace, your chemicals, or your specific procedures fail inspections.

Train your workers using the actual chemicals in your facility. Generic training is a starting point, not a finish line.

Set a schedule to review your program at least annually and every time you add a new chemical. The most common small-business failure mode is building a good program and then never updating it when the facility starts using a new product.

SafetyFolio's program generator handles the written program step, pulling in the regulatory requirements and prompting you for your site-specific details so the output is actually yours, not boilerplate. It does not replace the work of collecting SDSs or delivering training, but it removes the hours most people spend staring at a blank page trying to turn OSHA's regulatory language into plain English.

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary purpose of the hazard communication standard?

The primary purpose is to ensure workers know what hazardous chemicals they work with and how to protect themselves. 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires chemical manufacturers to classify hazards and transmit that information through labels, Safety Data Sheets, and training. OSHA calls this the "right to know" principle. About 43 million U.S. workers are covered by the standard.

What are the three main components of the hazard communication standard?

The three components are: (1) labels on all hazardous chemical containers with GHS-required elements including pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements; (2) Safety Data Sheets in the standardized 16-section format for every hazardous chemical in the workplace; and (3) employee training before workers begin work with hazardous chemicals, covering how to read labels and SDSs and what protective measures to use.

What is the difference between an MSDS and an SDS?

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) used the old, inconsistent format that preceded OSHA's 2012 GHS alignment. A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) uses the current mandatory 16-section GHS format. Old MSDSs are no longer compliant. If your binder still holds 8-section MSDSs, you need to request updated SDSs from your suppliers. The content requirements and section order are standardized under the current rule.

Does the hazard communication standard apply to small businesses?

Yes, with no small-business exemption. Any employer in general industry whose workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals must comply with 29 CFR 1910.1200, regardless of company size. OSHA does offer penalty reductions of up to 60% for employers with 25 or fewer workers, but the compliance requirements themselves apply fully. Construction has a parallel standard at 29 CFR 1926.59.

What chemicals are exempt from the hazard communication standard?

Exemptions under 29 CFR 1910.1200(b) include: hazardous waste regulated under RCRA, tobacco products, wood and wood products not further processed, articles (solid objects that do not release chemicals under normal use), FDA-regulated foods and drugs in consumer contexts, and consumer products used at consumer frequency and duration. Fuels, solvents, cleaning products, and most industrial chemicals are not exempt.

How often does OSHA cite employers for hazard communication violations?

Very often. In fiscal year 2023, OSHA issued 3,213 Hazard Communication citations, making it the second most-cited standard overall. It has ranked in the top five most-cited standards for most of the past decade. Common deficiencies include missing written programs, absent SDSs, unlabeled containers, and inadequate training documentation.

What does a written hazard communication program need to include?

Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(e), the written program must describe how your facility handles container labeling, how you manage and provide employee access to SDSs, and how you train employees. It must also list the hazardous chemicals present in each work area. The program must be site-specific, available to workers and OSHA inspectors on request, and updated when new hazards are introduced.

Can employers use electronic SDS management systems instead of paper binders?

Yes. OSHA allows electronic SDS management systems, but workers must be able to access SDSs immediately during their shift without barriers. That means a computer or tablet in the work area, not a system locked behind a manager's password or in a different building. If electronic access fails, you need a backup plan. OSHA has addressed this in letters of interpretation confirming that instant access is the standard.

What language must hazard communication training be conducted in?

Training must be conducted in a language workers can understand. OSHA has confirmed this in multiple letters of interpretation: if your workforce includes Spanish-speaking or other non-English-speaking workers, training must cover the material in their language. English SDSs are acceptable as documents, but the training explaining them must be in a language workers actually comprehend.

What is the GHS, and why did OSHA adopt it?

GHS stands for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, a United Nations framework. OSHA adopted it in the 2012 revision to HazCom to standardize how chemical hazards are classified and communicated internationally. GHS introduced the nine-pictogram system, standardized signal words (Danger or Warning), and the mandatory 16-section SDS format. Full employer compliance was required by June 1, 2016.

What is the penalty for violating the hazard communication standard?

As of 2024, serious HazCom violations carry a maximum penalty of $16,131 per violation. Willful or repeated violations can reach $161,323 per violation. OSHA offers reductions for small employers, good faith, and quick correction. A single inspection finding multiple deficiencies can result in $20,000 to $50,000 in total penalties for a small business before any negotiated reduction.

How does the hazard communication standard define a 'hazardous chemical'?

Under 29 CFR 1910.1200, a hazardous chemical is any chemical that is a physical hazard (flammable, explosive, reactive, oxidizing) or a health hazard (acutely toxic, corrosive, carcinogenic, reproductive toxicant, or a sensitizer, among others). The classification criteria come from the GHS system adopted in 2012. Employers can rely on manufacturer SDSs to determine whether a product is classified as hazardous.

When must employers train workers on hazard communication?

Workers must receive hazard communication training before their initial assignment to work with hazardous chemicals and again when a new chemical hazard is introduced to their work area. There is no mandatory refresher interval specified in the standard, but training records should document that each worker received instruction on the specific chemicals in their work area, more than a generic chemical safety overview.

Does the hazard communication standard cover construction workers?

Construction has its own parallel standard at 29 CFR 1926.59, which adopts the same requirements as 1910.1200 by reference. Labels, SDSs, written programs, and training are all required on construction sites. Hazardous chemicals on construction sites include paints, adhesives, solvents, concrete additives, and silica-containing materials, which also have their own separate silica standard at 29 CFR 1926.1153.

Sources

1. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communication Standard: Purpose, scope, exemptions, container labeling, SDS, training, and written program requirements of the HazCom standard
2. OSHA, Hazard Communication: Final Rule (Federal Register, March 26, 2012, 77 FR 17574): 2012 GHS alignment, estimated 585 fatalities and 43,000 injuries prevented annually, $2.8B annual benefits and $201M compliance cost, June 2016 compliance deadline
3. OSHA, Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards FY2023: Hazard Communication was the second most-cited standard in FY2023 with 3,213 citations; 2024 serious violation maximum penalty of $16,131; willful/repeated maximum $161,323
4. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Monographs Volume 100C: Wood Dust: Oak and beech wood dusts classified as Group 1 human carcinogens by IARC
5. OSHA, Hazard Communication guidance and sample written program: OSHA inspection procedures for HazCom, penalty reduction criteria for small employers, availability of sample written hazard communication programs
6. OSHA, Letter of Interpretation on training for employees who do not speak English (April 2, 1991): OSHA requires hazard communication training to be conducted in a language workers understand
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away From Work, 2022: Skin exposure disorders and respiratory conditions from chemical exposure result in thousands of lost-workday cases annually
8. United Nations, Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) 9th Revised Edition: GHS provides international standardized criteria for hazard classification and labelling that OSHA adopted in its 2012 HazCom revision