Hazardous communication standard: what it requires and how to comply

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the hazardous communication standard?

The Hazard Communication Standard, commonly called HazCom or the "Right to Know" law, is a federal OSHA regulation found at 29 CFR 1910.1200 ^[1]. It requires employers to tell workers what chemicals they are exposed to and what those chemicals can do to them. That sounds simple. The mechanics, though, touch every part of your operation: how chemicals are labeled, what documentation you keep, how you train employees, and what happens when a new product comes in the door.

OSHA estimates HazCom covers roughly 5 million workplaces and 43 million workers in the United States ^[1]. Construction employers fall under 29 CFR 1926.59, maritime under 29 CFR 1915.99, but those standards point back to 1910.1200 in almost every material way. If you have any chemical in your facility, including everyday items like bleach, paint, or propane, this standard probably applies to you.

The standard was rewritten in 2012 when OSHA matched it to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). That change standardized the label elements and the 16-section Safety Data Sheet (SDS) format you see today ^[1]. A further revision published in 2024 added updates around trade secrets, concentration ranges, and released-substance SDSs, with phased compliance dates running through 2026 ^[2].

HazCom has been one of OSHA's top 10 most-cited standards every single year for more than a decade. In federal fiscal year 2023, it ranked second, trailing only fall protection ^[3]. That frequency is not because the standard is impossibly hard to follow. It is because small employers routinely skip the written program, let SDS binders go stale, or run new employees through a five-minute tour and call it training.

Who does the hazardous communication standard apply to?

Almost any employer in general industry, construction, or maritime with a hazardous chemical on-site is covered ^[1]. A hazardous chemical under HazCom is anything that poses a physical hazard (flammable, explosive, reactive) or a health hazard (toxic, carcinogen, irritant, corrosive, or similar). That covers an enormous range of products.

A handful of exemptions are worth knowing. Hazardous waste regulated under RCRA has its own labeling rules and is exempt from most HazCom label requirements ^[1]. Tobacco products, wood or wood products that are not processed in a way that changes their composition, articles (solid objects that do not release a hazardous chemical under normal conditions of use), food and drugs regulated by the FDA when intended for personal consumption, and consumer products used the same way and at the same frequency as a normal consumer are also exempt ^[1]. The consumer product exemption trips people up. If your workers use a consumer cleaner more heavily or more often than a typical household consumer would, the exemption evaporates.

State-plan states, the 22 states and territories that run their own OSHA programs, must have HazCom regulations at least as effective as the federal standard ^[4]. Most adopt the federal text almost verbatim. A few, like California (Cal/OSHA), layer on more requirements. If you operate in a state-plan state, check your state agency's version of the rule before you assume federal HazCom is your only obligation.

Small businesses get no automatic pass. There is no employee-count threshold below which HazCom stops applying. A two-person auto body shop with spray paint and solvent is covered just as fully as a chemical manufacturer with 500 workers.

What are the four core requirements of HazCom?

The standard is built around four connected duties. Miss any one of them and you have a citable violation.

1. Written hazard communication program. You need a written document specific to your workplace that describes how you will comply with each element of HazCom ^[1]. It has to name who is responsible for the program, explain how you handle labels, explain where and how employees can access SDSs, and describe your training approach. The written program does not have to be elaborate. It does have to be real, meaning someone actually follows it.

2. Chemical inventory and Safety Data Sheets. You must hold an SDS for every hazardous chemical you use or store ^[1]. The SDS must be the 16-section GHS format. Employees must be able to reach SDSs during their shift without asking a supervisor for permission. Electronic SDS systems are fine as long as there is a backup for when the system goes down. Your written program should spell out that backup plan.

3. Labels and other forms of warning. Every container of a hazardous chemical must be labeled ^[1]. Labels on shipped containers from the manufacturer must carry the product identifier, signal word (Danger or Warning), hazard statements, precautionary statements, pictograms, and the supplier's contact information. For secondary containers you fill in-house, a simpler workplace label works as long as it gives workers the hazard information they need.

4. Employee training. Workers must be trained before they are first exposed to a hazardous chemical, and again when a new hazard is introduced ^[1]. Training has to cover the location and availability of the written program and SDSs, methods to detect a chemical release, physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area, protective measures available, and how to read labels and SDSs. Generic awareness training does not satisfy this. Training has to be specific to the actual chemicals in your workplace.

Those four elements are not a checklist you run through once. They are an ongoing system. The SDS binder that was current in 2019 may hold outdated sheets if suppliers changed their formulations. The training you gave last year does not cover the new adhesive you started using this spring.

What must a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) include?

Since OSHA's 2012 GHS alignment, every SDS must follow a 16-section structure ^[1]. OSHA's own Quick Card on SDS format lays out exactly what belongs in each section ^[5].

Section	Title	What it covers
1	Identification	Product name, supplier, emergency phone number
2	Hazard(s) identification	GHS classification, signal word, hazard statements, pictograms
3	Composition/ingredients	Chemical identity, CAS numbers, concentration ranges
4	First-aid measures	Symptoms, required treatment by exposure route
5	Fire-fighting measures	Suitable extinguishing media, special hazards
6	Accidental release measures	Containment, cleanup, personal protection during spills
7	Handling and storage	Safe handling practices, incompatibilities
8	Exposure controls/PPE	OSHA PELs, ACGIH TLVs, required PPE
9	Physical and chemical properties	Flash point, vapor pressure, solubility, etc.
10	Stability and reactivity	Conditions to avoid, hazardous decomposition products
11	Toxicological information	Routes of exposure, LD50/LC50, carcinogenicity data
12	Ecological information	(Non-mandatory under HazCom)
13	Disposal considerations	(Non-mandatory under HazCom)
14	Transport information	(Non-mandatory under HazCom)
15	Regulatory information	(Non-mandatory under HazCom)
16	Other information	Revision date, preparation date

Sections 12 through 15 are technically non-mandatory under federal HazCom, but chemical manufacturers almost always fill them in anyway because other regulations require the data ^[1]. From a practical standpoint, you just need the complete 16-section SDS from your supplier.

Here is what small employers frequently miss: you are not the one who creates SDSs for chemicals you buy. The chemical manufacturer or importer is responsible for preparing them ^[1]. Your job is to get them, keep them current, and make them reachable. If a supplier cannot or will not give you an SDS for a product you purchase, that is a red flag. You can contact OSHA for help getting the information.

For a worked example of what a real SDS looks like for a common chemical, the hcl safety data sheet article walks through each section of a hydrochloric acid SDS in plain language.

What do GHS labels need to include?

GHS labels on containers shipped from a manufacturer or importer must carry six required elements under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f) ^[1]. Get one wrong and the label is out of compliance.

First, the product identifier, which must match what appears on the SDS. Second, a signal word: either "Danger" for more severe hazards or "Warning" for less severe ones. A label uses one or the other, never both. Third, hazard statements that describe the nature of the hazard ("Causes severe skin burns and eye damage," for example). Fourth, precautionary statements covering prevention, response, storage, and disposal. Fifth, pictograms: the nine standardized GHS pictograms enclosed in a red diamond border. Not every chemical triggers all nine; the chemical's hazard classification decides which apply. Sixth, the name, address, and phone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party.

For secondary containers filled in-house, the full shipped-container label is not required. A workplace label is acceptable if it provides the product identifier and words, pictures, or symbols that give workers general information about the hazards and point them to the SDS for more detail ^[1]. Many small shops use color-coded labels or NFPA/HMIS-style diamonds for secondary containers. That works as long as your training covers how to read those labels and employees can quickly get to the SDS for specifics.

Pipes, tanks, and process equipment follow a different rule. OSHA lets employers use process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or similar written materials instead of individual labels, provided the materials stay accessible in the work area during the shift ^[1]. You still have to train workers on the system you use.

Do not cover, deface, or remove labels from shipped containers. That is a separate violation from failing to label secondary containers, and inspectors look for it specifically.

What does HazCom training have to cover, specifically?

Training is where most small businesses cut corners, and it is one of the most-cited elements of HazCom. OSHA requires training at the time of initial assignment and whenever a new physical or health hazard enters the work area ^[1]. The regulation lists what the training must cover at 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3).

Training must cover the requirements of the HazCom standard itself and where employees can find the written program; operations in the employee's work area where hazardous chemicals are present; the location and availability of the chemical inventory and SDSs; methods and observations employees can use to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical (visual appearance, odor, monitoring); physical and health hazards of the chemicals; measures employees can take to protect themselves, including PPE, work practices, and emergency procedures; and how to read and understand labels and SDSs.

Notice what that list does not say. It does not require a formal classroom session, a specific duration, or a written test. OSHA's standard is performance-based. The question an inspector asks is whether employees actually understand the hazards they face and what to do about them. If your "training" is handing someone a binder and saying "read this," that will not hold up.

Documentation of training matters. Keep records of who was trained, when, what was covered, and who delivered it. OSHA does not set a specific retention period for HazCom training records, but keeping them for the length of employment plus three years is a defensible practice consistent with other OSHA recordkeeping standards ^[6].

If your work puts multiple employers on the same site, like a contractor and subcontractors, each employer must make sure their own employees are trained. Employers also must make their SDSs available to other employers' workers who may be exposed to those chemicals ^[1]. This comes up constantly in construction and manufacturing settings where outside contractors work alongside your staff.

For a broader look at what OSHA expects from your training programs, see the osha training guide.

What must the written hazard communication program include?

The written program is the spine of your HazCom compliance. Without it, everything else is informal and hard to audit or defend. OSHA sets the minimum content at 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) ^[1].

Your written program must describe how you will meet the requirements for labels, SDSs, and employee information and training in your facility. It must include the methods you use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks and the hazards of chemicals in unlabeled pipes. For multi-employer worksites, it must describe how you make sure other employers know about hazards their workers may encounter.

The program must also include a list of hazardous chemicals in the workplace, organized by work area if that fits your operation. That list does not have to be a formal database. A spreadsheet or even a paper list works, as long as it is current and it cross-references your SDSs.

Three things people forget to put in their written programs: who is specifically responsible for maintaining the SDS file, what the backup system is when an electronic SDS system is down, and how you handle new chemicals coming in (who requests the SDS from the supplier before the chemical is used). Those gaps are easy for an inspector to find.

If you want to build a solid written program without spending hours starting from scratch, SafetyFolio's safety program generator lets you answer questions about your specific workplace and produces a HazCom program tailored to your operation in about 15 minutes.

One more thing: the written program must be available to employees, employee representatives, and OSHA ^[1]. It cannot live only in the owner's email inbox. Print a copy and keep it where employees can reach it, or make it genuinely accessible through whatever digital system you use.

How does OSHA enforce HazCom, and what are the penalties?

OSHA can inspect your facility after an employee complaint, a referral from another agency, a programmed inspection targeting high-hazard industries, or a reportable injury or fatality. During any inspection, the compliance officer will almost certainly ask to see your written HazCom program, your SDS file, your chemical inventory, and your training records ^[7].

HazCom violations are almost always classified as "serious" under OSHA's penalty structure, meaning OSHA has determined there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result. As of 2024, the maximum penalty for a serious violation is $16,550 per violation ^[7]. Each missing SDS, each unlabeled secondary container, and each employee who cannot demonstrate understanding of the chemicals they work with can be a separate violation.

Willful or repeated violations carry a maximum penalty of $165,514 per violation as of 2024 ^[7]. OSHA adjusts these figures annually for inflation.

OSHA uses a gravity-based penalty calculation that weighs the severity of potential harm, the probability of an incident, the size of the employer (smaller employers get reductions), the employer's good faith (having a written program even if it is incomplete helps), and the employer's history of prior violations ^[7]. A 10-employee shop with its first citation and a documented safety effort will pay far less than the published maximum.

The most common HazCom citations inspectors write involve no written program or an outdated one, missing SDSs for chemicals on-site, unlabeled secondary containers, and no documented training or training that skips the required topics. Fix those four things before an inspector shows up.

OSHA's hazard communication page has more detail on the enforcement approach.

What changed with the 2024 HazCom update?

OSHA published a final rule revising 29 CFR 1910.1200 in May 2024, with the stated goal of further matching U.S. requirements to the seventh revision of the GHS and closing practical gaps that had shown up since 2012 ^[2].

The major changes:

Expanded provisions for trade secret claims. The 2024 rule adds specificity to what information can be withheld as a trade secret and what health professionals are entitled to receive even when a trade secret claim is asserted.

SDS provisions for released substances. Chemicals released during use (like welding fumes or combustion gases) now have clearer SDS requirements. This matters for welding shops, foundries, and any operation where a chemical in use generates a different hazardous substance as a byproduct.

Concentration ranges on SDSs. The update gives manufacturers more flexibility to disclose concentration ranges while still protecting legitimate trade secrets.

Updated compliance dates. The rule set a phased schedule. Chemical manufacturers and importers had the earliest obligations to update SDSs and labels. Distributors and employers in general industry have until later dates to update their materials. OSHA's website carries the current compliance timeline ^[2].

For most small employers using chemicals rather than making them, the day-to-day impact of the 2024 update is moderate. Your main job is to make sure that as suppliers update their SDSs and labels to the 2024 format, you replace your old sheets and confirm your labels match the new versions. Running an outdated SDS because you never requested the current version is still a violation even if the supplier already updated their document.

If you also run lockout tagout procedures for equipment that involves hazardous energy from chemical systems, the SDS for those chemicals needs to be part of your energy control program documentation too.

How does HazCom relate to other OSHA standards?

HazCom does not stand alone. It crosses several other OSHA standards in ways that matter on the shop floor.

Section 8 of every SDS lists OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and, where available, ACGIH Threshold Limit Values. If your workers are regularly exposed to chemicals listed in 29 CFR 1910.1000 (the Z-tables) or a substance-specific standard like the lead standard (29 CFR 1910.1025) or the hexavalent chromium standard (29 CFR 1910.1026), those standards pile on requirements beyond HazCom: air monitoring, medical surveillance, exposure records, and more. HazCom training and SDSs do not substitute for those obligations ^[6].

PPE selection, required under 29 CFR 1910.132, leans heavily on the hazard information in SDSs. An employer who has not read Section 8 of the SDSs for their chemicals cannot properly assess what gloves, respirators, or eye protection workers need. OSHA inspectors sometimes find HazCom violations and PPE violations together for exactly this reason.

Process Safety Management (PSM) under 29 CFR 1910.119 applies to facilities with highly hazardous chemicals above threshold quantities. PSM requires process hazard analyses, operating procedures, and mechanical integrity programs that go far beyond HazCom's scope. HazCom is still a baseline requirement on top of PSM, not replaced by it ^[10].

For employers with reportable injuries, the incident report process sometimes traces back to a chemical exposure. In those cases, your SDS file becomes part of the incident investigation record. Complete, current SDSs are more than a compliance issue in those moments. They are a legal record of what you knew about the hazard.

What are the most common HazCom mistakes small businesses make?

After more than a decade of inspections under the GHS-aligned standard, the pattern of failures at small businesses is predictable.

The most common: no written program at all, or a generic template downloaded years ago that does not reflect the actual chemicals or operations in the facility. A written program that lists no specific chemicals and names no responsible person is useless as a compliance document.

Second: SDS files that are incomplete or stale. A manufacturer changes its formulation, the new SDS has different hazard classifications and PPE requirements, and the employer still has the 2017 sheet. Keeping SDSs current requires a process, not a one-time effort.

Third: unlabeled secondary containers. Someone decants a solvent into a spray bottle for convenience and the bottle never gets labeled. That is a violation every time it happens. The fix is cheap. Keep a roll of blank labels and a marker next to the area where secondary containers are filled, and make labeling part of the decanting step rather than an afterthought.

Fourth: training that cannot be documented. "We told everybody at the safety meeting" will not satisfy an inspector who asks for training records. Keep a sign-in sheet at minimum. A short written quiz, even five questions, is better because it creates a record that employees understood the material.

Fifth: forgetting contractor and multi-employer obligations. If outside contractors work in your space and you have chemicals they might be exposed to, you must give them access to your SDSs and make sure they know about the hazards in their work area ^[1].

Fixing these five things does not take a consultant. It takes a realistic system and someone who owns it. For an osha 30 trained supervisor or safety manager, HazCom compliance is a manageable ongoing task, not a project that needs outside help every year.

How do you build and maintain a HazCom program that actually works?

Building a HazCom program that holds up is less about the documents you create and more about the habits you build around purchasing, storage, and training.

Start with an honest chemical inventory. Walk your facility and write down every chemical product you have, including cleaning supplies, lubricants, fuels, paints, adhesives, and anything used in your production process. If it has a label with a signal word or a health warning, put it on your list. This inventory becomes the foundation of your written program.

For every chemical on that list, request a current SDS from the supplier. Most suppliers post SDSs on their websites now. Download the current version, note the revision date, and file it. Repeat this for every new product you bring in before it enters use.

Set a calendar reminder to audit your SDS file at least once a year. Check each SDS against your current chemical inventory. Pull sheets for chemicals you no longer use. Request updated versions for any sheets more than three to five years old, because formulations change.

For your written program, name one specific person as the HazCom coordinator. That person maintains the chemical inventory, keeps the SDS file current, coordinates new-hire training, and handles training updates when new chemicals arrive. When that person changes jobs, update the written program immediately.

For training, build a simple outline: where the SDS file is and how to access it, how to read a GHS label, the specific chemicals in the employee's work area and their hazards, and what to do if there is a spill or exposure. Deliver it in person for new hires. Keep the sign-in sheet. When a new chemical comes in, run a brief update session for affected workers and document it.

For a company that wants a solid written program built around their actual chemicals and operations rather than a generic template, SafetyFolio's generator produces a tailored document with your chemicals, your contacts, and your procedures already filled in.

None of this requires a lawyer or a safety consultant for a typical small business. It requires attention and consistency.

Frequently asked questions

What is the hazardous communication standard in simple terms?

The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) is OSHA's 'Right to Know' regulation. It requires employers to identify every hazardous chemical in the workplace, keep a Safety Data Sheet for each one, label containers properly, and train workers on the hazards before they are exposed. The goal is that no worker meets a chemical without knowing what it can do and how to protect themselves.

Does HazCom apply to my small business?

Yes, almost certainly. There is no employee-count exemption. If any hazardous chemical, including common products like bleach, paint thinner, or propane, is present in your workplace, HazCom applies. The only meaningful exemptions are for consumer products used exactly as a normal consumer would use them, tobacco products, wood articles, and RCRA-regulated hazardous waste.

What is the difference between an MSDS and an SDS?

MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet, the older format used before OSHA's 2012 GHS alignment. SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is the current required format, with a standardized 16-section structure. MSDSs had no required format and varied widely by manufacturer. If your facility still has MSDSs instead of current 16-section SDSs, they do not satisfy 29 CFR 1910.1200's requirements and you need to request updated documents from your suppliers.

How often do employees need HazCom training?

The regulation requires training before initial assignment to work with hazardous chemicals and again whenever a new physical or health hazard enters the work area. There is no mandatory annual retraining interval, but refresher training is wise when procedures change, when an incident happens, or when an audit reveals employees cannot describe the hazards they work with. Document every training session no matter how informal it is.

What are the GHS pictograms and what do they mean?

GHS uses nine standardized pictograms in red diamond borders: a flame (flammable), a flame over a circle (oxidizer), an exploding bomb (explosive), a skull and crossbones (acute toxicity), a corrosion symbol (skin/eye corrosion), an exclamation mark (irritant, less severe hazard), a health hazard symbol (carcinogen, respiratory sensitizer), an environmental symbol (aquatic toxicity), and a gas cylinder (compressed gas). Employers must train workers to recognize and interpret all nine.

Can I use electronic SDS systems instead of paper binders?

Yes. OSHA allows electronic SDS access as long as employees can reach the system during their shift without restriction and there is a written backup plan for system outages. Your written HazCom program must describe the backup. A common backup is keeping paper SDSs for your most hazardous chemicals in a designated location. Employees must never have to ask a supervisor for permission to view an SDS.

What are the HazCom penalties for violations?

As of 2024, OSHA can cite HazCom violations as serious violations with maximum penalties of $16,550 per violation. Willful or repeated violations carry maximums of $165,514 per violation. OSHA adjusts these annually for inflation. In practice, small employers with no prior history and documented good-faith efforts pay far less, but missing SDSs or no written program can still result in citations in the thousands of dollars.

What chemicals are exempt from the hazardous communication standard?

Exemptions under 29 CFR 1910.1200(b) include consumer products used in the same manner and frequency as normal consumer use, tobacco products, wood and wood products not processed to release a hazardous chemical, articles (solid objects that do not release hazardous chemicals in normal use), food and drugs regulated by FDA for personal consumption, and hazardous waste regulated under RCRA. When in doubt, treat the chemical as covered rather than guessing at an exemption.

What does OSHA look for during a HazCom inspection?

OSHA compliance officers typically ask to see your written HazCom program, your chemical inventory list, your SDS file (and check it for completeness), container labels throughout the facility, and training records. They may also interview employees and ask them to describe the hazards of chemicals they work with and where to find the SDS. Employees who cannot answer those questions are evidence of inadequate training regardless of what your paperwork says.

Do I need a HazCom program for chemicals used only occasionally?

Yes. How often a chemical is used does not change whether it is present in the workplace. If a cleaning chemical or maintenance product is on-site, even if used only monthly, you need an SDS for it, and employees who may use or be exposed to it must be trained on its hazards. Occasional-use chemicals are often the ones that get forgotten in audits and show up as violations during inspections.

How do multi-employer worksites handle HazCom requirements?

Each employer is responsible for making sure their own employees are trained. If your chemicals could expose another employer's workers, you must make your SDSs available to those workers and inform the other employer of the hazards. This applies in construction, manufacturing, and any setting where contractors work alongside your staff. OSHA's multi-employer citation policy can hold the employer controlling the site responsible even for a subcontractor's exposure.

What is the difference between HazCom and Process Safety Management?

HazCom covers information, labeling, and training for all hazardous chemicals in a workplace. Process Safety Management (PSM, 29 CFR 1910.119) applies only when a facility has highly hazardous chemicals above specific threshold quantities. PSM adds process hazard analysis, operating procedures, mechanical integrity programs, and much more. PSM facilities must still comply with HazCom; PSM does not replace it. Most small businesses face only HazCom obligations, not PSM.

How do I get Safety Data Sheets for my chemicals?

Contact the manufacturer or distributor of each chemical product. Most post SDSs on their websites; search the product name plus 'SDS' on the manufacturer's site. If a supplier refuses to provide an SDS for a product you purchase, contact OSHA. Manufacturers and importers are legally required to prepare SDSs and make them available to downstream employers. OSHA can step in if a supplier will not provide one.

What changed in the 2024 HazCom update?

OSHA's May 2024 revision to 29 CFR 1910.1200 introduced updated trade secret provisions, clearer SDS requirements for substances released during use (like welding fumes), and flexibility on disclosing concentration ranges. Compliance dates are phased, with chemical manufacturers and importers required to update their SDSs and labels first. Employers in general industry have later deadlines to update their files. Check OSHA's current compliance timeline on OSHA.gov for your specific deadline.

Sources

1. OSHA, Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200): HazCom requires a written program, SDSs for every hazardous chemical, proper labeling, and employee training before initial exposure; covers approximately 5 million workplaces and 43 million workers.
2. OSHA, HazCom 2024 Final Rule: OSHA published a final rule revising 29 CFR 1910.1200 in 2024 to align with GHS revision 7, adding provisions on trade secrets, released substances, and concentration ranges, with phased compliance dates.
3. OSHA, Top 10 Most Cited Standards FY2023: Hazard Communication ranked second among OSHA's most-cited standards in federal fiscal year 2023.
4. OSHA, State Plans: Twenty-two states and territories run their own OSHA-approved programs and must have HazCom regulations at least as effective as the federal standard.
5. OSHA, Hazard Communication Standard Safety Data Sheets QuickCard: OSHA's QuickCard on SDS format lays out the required content of each of the 16 SDS sections.
6. OSHA, Toxic and Hazardous Substances (29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z): Substance-specific standards like 29 CFR 1910.1025 (lead) and 29 CFR 1910.1026 (hexavalent chromium) impose additional requirements beyond HazCom, including air monitoring and medical surveillance.
7. OSHA, Penalties: As of 2024, OSHA maximum penalties are $16,550 per serious violation and $165,514 per willful or repeated violation, adjusted annually for inflation.
8. OSHA, Multi-Employer Citation Policy (CPL 02-00-124): OSHA's multi-employer citation policy can hold the controlling employer on a worksite responsible for hazards affecting subcontractors' employees.
9. OSHA, Process Safety Management Standard (29 CFR 1910.119): PSM applies to facilities with highly hazardous chemicals above threshold quantities and imposes requirements beyond HazCom, but does not replace HazCom obligations.
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review: BLS tracks occupational injuries and illnesses from chemical exposures as part of its Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.