Hazard Communication
OSHA’s standard requiring chemical hazard communication, 29 CFR 1910.1200.
What it is
Hazard Communication (HazCom) is OSHA’s standard requiring that chemical hazards in the workplace be communicated to workers via labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), training, and a written hazard communication program.
Plain-English explanation
Workers have the right to know what chemicals they’re exposed to. HazCom is the standard that operationalizes that right. It applies to manufacturers (who must classify hazards and produce SDSs), importers, distributors, and employers.
HazCom is aligned with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). The 2024 update aligned the U.S. standard with GHS Revision 7.
Why it matters
HazCom is the most-cited OSHA standard, year after year. Most workplace chemical-exposure incidents involve a HazCom failure somewhere in the chain.