Hazard Communication Standard (1910.1200)

Title 29: Labor
PART 1910—OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS (CONTINUED)
Subpart Z—Toxic and Hazardous Substances
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§ 1910.1200 Hazard communication.
(a) Purpose. (1) The purpose of this section is to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or
imported are evaluated, and that information concerning their hazards is transmitted to employers and
employees. This transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of comprehensive hazard
communication programs, which are to include container labeling and other forms of warning, material safety
data sheets and employee training.
(2) This occupational safety and health standard is intended to address comprehensively the issue of
evaluating the potential hazards of chemicals, and communicating information concerning hazards and
appropriate protective measures to employees, and to preempt any legal requirements of a state, or political
subdivision of a state, pertaining to this subject. Evaluating the potential hazards of chemicals, and
communicating information concerning hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees, may
include, for example, but is not limited to, provisions for: developing and maintaining a written hazard
communication program for the workplace, including lists of hazardous chemicals present; labeling of
containers of chemicals in the workplace, as well as of containers of chemicals being shipped to other
workplaces; preparation and distribution of material safety data sheets to employees and downstream
employers; and development and implementation of employee training programs regarding hazards of
chemicals and protective measures. Under section 18 of the Act, no state or political subdivision of a state
may adopt or enforce, through any court or agency, any requirement relating to the issue addressed by this
Federal standard, except pursuant to a Federally-approved state plan.
(b) Scope and application. (1) This section requires chemical manufacturers or importers to assess the
hazards of chemicals which they produce or import, and all employers to provide information to their
employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they are exposed, by means of a hazard
communication program, labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and information and
training. In addition, this section requires distributors to transmit the required information to employers.
(Employers who do not produce or import chemicals need only focus on those parts of this rule that deal
with establishing a workplace program and communicating information to their workers. Appendix E of this
section is a general guide for such employers to help them determine their compliance obligations under the
rule.)
(2) This section applies to any chemical which is known to be present in the workplace in such a manner
that employees may be exposed under normal conditions of use or in a foreseeable emergency.
(3) This section applies to laboratories only as follows:
(i) Employers shall ensure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or
defaced;
(ii) Employers shall maintain any material safety data sheets that are received with incoming shipments of
hazardous chemicals, and ensure that they are readily accessible during each workshift to laboratory
employees when they are in their work areas;
(iii) Employers shall ensure that laboratory employees are provided information and training in accordance
with paragraph (h) of this section, except for the location and availability of the written hazard
communication program under paragraph (h)(2)(iii) of this section; and,
(iv) Laboratory employers that ship hazardous chemicals are considered to be either a chemical
manufacturer or a distributor under this rule, and thus must ensure that any containers of hazardous
chemicals leaving the laboratory are labeled in accordance with paragraph (f)(1) of this section, and that a

material safety data sheet is provided to distributors and other employers in accordance with paragraphs
(g)(6) and (g)(7) of this section.
(4) In work operations where employees only handle chemicals in sealed containers which are not opened
under normal conditions of use (such as are found in marine cargo handling, warehousing, or retail sales),
this section applies to these operations only as follows:
(i) Employers shall ensure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or
defaced;
(ii) Employers shall maintain copies of any material safety data sheets that are received with incoming
shipments of the sealed containers of hazardous chemicals, shall obtain a material safety data sheet as
soon as possible for sealed containers of hazardous chemicals received without a material safety data sheet
if an employee requests the material safety data sheet, and shall ensure that the material safety data sheets
are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s); and,
(iii) Employers shall ensure that employees are provided with information and training in accordance with
paragraph (h) of this section (except for the location and availability of the written hazard communication
program under paragraph (h)(2)(iii) of this section), to the extent necessary to protect them in the event of a
spill or leak of a hazardous chemical from a sealed container.
(5) This section does not require labeling of the following chemicals:
(i) Any pesticide as such term is defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C.
136 et seq. ), when subject to the labeling requirements of that Act and labeling regulations issued under
that Act by the Environmental Protection Agency;
(ii) Any chemical substance or mixture as such terms are defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act (15
U.S.C. 2601 et seq. ), when subject to the labeling requirements of that Act and labeling regulations issued
under that Act by the Environmental Protection Agency.
(iii) Any food, food additive, color additive, drug, cosmetic, or medical or veterinary device or product,
including materials intended for use as ingredients in such products ( e.g. flavors and fragrances), as such
terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ) or the Virus-SerumToxin Act of 1913 (21 U.S.C. 151 et seq. ), and regulations issued under those Acts, when they are subject
to the labeling requirements under those Acts by either the Food and Drug Administration or the Department
of Agriculture;
(iv) Any distilled spirits (beverage alcohols), wine, or malt beverage intended for nonindustrial use, as such
terms are defined in the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (27 U.S.C. 201 et seq. ) and regulations issued
under that Act, when subject to the labeling requirements of that Act and labeling regulations issued under
that Act by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms;
(v) Any consumer product or hazardous substance as those terms are defined in the Consumer Product
Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq. ) and Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq. )
respectively, when subject to a consumer product safety standard or labeling requirement of those Acts, or
regulations issued under those Acts by the Consumer Product Safety Commission; and,
(vi) Agricultural or vegetable seed treated with pesticides and labeled in accordance with the Federal Seed
Act (7 U.S.C. 1551 et seq. ) and the labeling regulations issued under that Act by the Department of
Agriculture.
(6) This section does not apply to: (i) Any hazardous waste as such term is defined by the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42
U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ), when subject to regulations issued under that Act by the Environmental Protection
Agency;

(ii) Any hazardous substance as such term is defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability ACT (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. ) when the hazardous substance is the
focus of remedial or removal action being conducted under CERCLA in accordance with Environmental
Protection Agency regulations;
(iii) Tobacco or tobacco products;
(iv) Wood or wood products, including lumber which will not be processed, where the chemical manufacturer
or importer can establish that the only hazard they pose to employees is the potential for flammability or
combustibility (wood or wood products which have been treated with a hazardous chemical covered by this
standard, and wood which may be subsequently sawed or cut, generating dust, are not exempted);
(v) Articles (as that term is defined in paragraph (c) of this section);
(vi) Food or alcoholic beverages which are sold, used, or prepared in a retail establishment (such as a
grocery store, restaurant, or drinking place), and foods intended for personal consumption by employees
while in the workplace;
(vii) Any drug, as that term is defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ),
when it is in solid, final form for direct administration to the patient ( e.g., tablets or pills); drugs which are
packaged by the chemical manufacturer for sale to consumers in a retail establishment ( e.g ., over-thecounter drugs); and drugs intended for personal consumption by employees while in the workplace ( e.g .,
first aid supplies);
(viii) Cosmetics which are packaged for sale to consumers in a retail establishment, and cosmetics intended
for personal consumption by employees while in the workplace;
(ix) Any consumer product or hazardous substance, as those terms are defined in the Consumer Product
Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq. ) and Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et seq. )
respectively, where the employer can show that it is used in the workplace for the purpose intended by the
chemical manufacturer or importer of the product, and the use results in a duration and frequency of
exposure which is not greater than the range of exposures that could reasonably be experienced by
consumers when used for the purpose intended;
(x) Nuisance particulates where the chemical manufacturer or importer can establish that they do not pose
any physical or health hazard covered under this section;
(xi) Ionizing and nonionizing radiation; and,
(xii) Biological hazards.
(c) Definitions. Article means a manufactured item other than a fluid or particle: (i) which is formed to a
specific shape or design during manufacture; (ii) which has end use function(s) dependent in whole or in part
upon its shape or design during end use; and (iii) which under normal conditions of use does not release
more than very small quantities, e.g., minute or trace amounts of a hazardous chemical (as determined
under paragraph (d) of this section), and does not pose a physical hazard or health risk to employees.
Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.
Department of Labor, or designee.
Chemical means any element, chemical compound or mixture of elements and/or compounds.
Chemical manufacturer means an employer with a workplace where chemical(s) are produced for use or
distribution.
Chemical name means the scientific designation of a chemical in accordance with the nomenclature system
developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) or the Chemical Abstracts

Service (CAS) rules of nomenclature, or a name which will clearly identify the chemical for the purpose of
conducting a hazard evaluation.
Combustible liquid means any liquid having a flashpoint at or above 100 °F (37.8 °C), but below 200 °F
(93.3 °C), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 200 °F (93.3 °C), or higher, the total
volume of which make up 99 percent or more of the total volume of the mixture.
Commercial account means an arrangement whereby a retail distributor sells hazardous chemicals to an
employer, generally in large quantities over time and/or at costs that are below the regular retail price.
Common name means any designation or identification such as code name, code number, trade name,
brand name or generic name used to identify a chemical other than by its chemical name.
Compressed gas means:
(i) A gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 °F (21.1
°C); or
(ii) A gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 104 psi at 130 °F (54.4
°C) regardless of the pressure at 70 °F (21.1 °C); or
(iii) A liquid having a vapor pressure exceeding 40 psi at 100 °F (37.8 °C) as determined by ASTM D–323–
72.
Container means any bag, barrel, bottle, box, can, cylinder, drum, reaction vessel, storage tank, or the like
that contains a hazardous chemical. For purposes of this section, pipes or piping systems, and engines, fuel
tanks, or other operating systems in a vehicle, are not considered to be containers.
Designated representative means any individual or organization to whom an employee gives written
authorization to exercise such employee's rights under this section. A recognized or certified collective
bargaining agent shall be treated automatically as a designated representative without regard to written
employee authorization.
Director means the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, or designee.
Distributor means a business, other than a chemical manufacturer or importer, which supplies hazardous
chemicals to other distributors or to employers.
Employee means a worker who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals under normal operating conditions
or in foreseeable emergencies. Workers such as office workers or bank tellers who encounter hazardous
chemicals only in non-routine, isolated instances are not covered.
Employer means a person engaged in a business where chemicals are either used, distributed, or are
produced for use or distribution, including a contractor or subcontractor.
Explosive means a chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure, gas, and heat
when subjected to sudden shock, pressure, or high temperature.
Exposure or exposed means that an employee is subjected in the course of employment to a chemical that
is a physical or health hazard, and includes potential ( e.g. accidental or possible) exposure. “Subjected” in
terms of health hazards includes any route of entry ( e.g. inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption.)
Flammable means a chemical that falls into one of the following categories:

(i) Aerosol, flammable means an aerosol that, when tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.45,
yields a flame projection exceeding 18 inches at full valve opening, or a flashback (a flame extending back
to the valve) at any degree of valve opening;
(ii) Gas, flammable means: (A) A gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms a flammable mixture
with air at a concentration of thirteen (13) percent by volume or less; or
(B) A gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms a range of flammable mixtures with air wider
than twelve (12) percent by volume, regardless of the lower limit;
(iii) Liquid, flammable means any liquid having a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), except any mixture
having components with flashpoints of 100 °F (37.8 °C) or higher, the total of which make up 99 percent or
more of the total volume of the mixture.
(iv) Solid, flammable means a solid, other than a blasting agent or explosive as defined in §1910.109(a), that
is liable to cause fire through friction, absorption of moisture, spontaneous chemical change, or retained
heat from manufacturing or processing, or which can be ignited readily and when ignited burns so vigorously
and persistently as to create a serious hazard. A chemical shall be considered to be a flammable solid if,
when tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.44, it ignites and burns with a self-sustained flame at
a rate greater than one-tenth of an inch per second along its major axis.
Flashpoint means the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off a vapor in sufficient concentration to
ignite when tested as follows:
(i) Tagliabue Closed Tester (See American National Standard Method of Test for Flash Point by Tag Closed
Tester, Z11.24–1979 (ASTM D 56–79)) for liquids with a viscosity of less than 45 Saybolt Universal Seconds
(SUS) at 100 °F (37.8 °C), that do not contain suspended solids and do not have a tendency to form a
surface film under test; or
(ii) Pensky-Martens Closed Tester (see American National Standard Method of Test for Flash Point by
Pensky-Martens Closed Tester, Z11.7–1979 (ASTM D 93–79)) for liquids with a viscosity equal to or greater
than 45 SUS at 100 °F (37.8 °C), or that contain suspended solids, or that have a tendency to form a surface
film under test; or
(iii) Setaflash Closed Tester (see American National Standard Method of Test for Flash Point by Setaflash
Closed Tester (ASTM D 3278–78)).
Organic peroxides, which undergo autoaccelerating thermal decomposition, are excluded from any of the
flashpoint determination methods specified above.
Foreseeable emergency means any potential occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure,
rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment which could result in an uncontrolled release of a
hazardous chemical into the workplace.
Hazardous chemical means any chemical which is a physical hazard or a health hazard.
Hazard warning means any words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof appearing on a label or other
appropriate form of warning which convey the specific physical and health hazard(s), including target organ
effects, of the chemical(s) in the container(s). (See the definitions for “physical hazard” and “health hazard”
to determine the hazards which must be covered.)
Health hazard means a chemical for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one
study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may
occur in exposed employees. The term “health hazard” includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or
highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins,
neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic system, and agents which damage the lungs, skin,
eyes, or mucous membranes. Appendix A provides further definitions and explanations of the scope of

health hazards covered by this section, and Appendix B describes the criteria to be used to determine
whether or not a chemical is to be considered hazardous for purposes of this standard.
Identity means any chemical or common name which is indicated on the material safety data sheet (MSDS)
for the chemical. The identity used shall permit cross-references to be made among the required list of
hazardous chemicals, the label and the MSDS.
Immediate use means that the hazardous chemical will be under the control of and used only by the person
who transfers it from a labeled container and only within the work shift in which it is transferred.
Importer means the first business with employees within the Customs Territory of the United States which
receives hazardous chemicals produced in other countries for the purpose of supplying them to distributors
or employers within the United States.
Label means any written, printed, or graphic material displayed on or affixed to containers of hazardous
chemicals.
Material safety data sheet (MSDS) means written or printed material concerning a hazardous chemical
which is prepared in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section.
Mixture means any combination of two or more chemicals if the combination is not, in whole or in part, the
result of a chemical reaction.
Organic peroxide means an organic compound that contains the bivalent -O-O-structure and which may be
considered to be a structural derivative of hydrogen peroxide where one or both of the hydrogen atoms has
been replaced by an organic radical.
Oxidizer means a chemical other than a blasting agent or explosive as defined in §1910.109(a), that initiates
or promotes combustion in other materials, thereby causing fire either of itself or through the release of
oxygen or other gases.
Physical hazard means a chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible
liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable
(reactive) or water-reactive.
Produce means to manufacture, process, formulate, blend, extract, generate, emit, or repackage.
Pyrophoric means a chemical that will ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of 130 °F (54.4 °C) or
below.
Responsible party means someone who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and
appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary.
Specific chemical identity means the chemical name, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number,
or any other information that reveals the precise chemical designation of the substance.
Trade secret means any confidential formula, pattern, process, device, information or compilation of
information that is used in an employer's business, and that gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an
advantage over competitors who do not know or use it. Appendix D sets out the criteria to be used in
evaluating trade secrets.
Unstable (reactive) means a chemical which in the pure state, or as produced or transported, will vigorously
polymerize, decompose, condense, or will become self-reactive under conditions of shocks, pressure or
temperature.
Use means to package, handle, react, emit, extract, generate as a byproduct, or transfer.

Water-reactive means a chemical that reacts with water to release a gas that is either flammable or presents
a health hazard.
Work area means a room or defined space in a workplace where hazardous chemicals are produced or
used, and where employees are present.
Workplace means an establishment, job site, or project, at one geographical location containing one or more
work areas.
(d) Hazard determination. (1) Chemical manufacturers and importers shall evaluate chemicals produced in
their workplaces or imported by them to determine if they are hazardous. Employers are not required to
evaluate chemicals unless they choose not to rely on the evaluation performed by the chemical
manufacturer or importer for the chemical to satisfy this requirement.
(2) Chemical manufacturers, importers or employers evaluating chemicals shall identify and consider the
available scientific evidence concerning such hazards. For health hazards, evidence which is statistically
significant and which is based on at least one positive study conducted in accordance with established
scientific principles is considered to be sufficient to establish a hazardous effect if the results of the study
meet the definitions of health hazards in this section. Appendix A shall be consulted for the scope of health
hazards covered, and Appendix B shall be consulted for the criteria to be followed with respect to the
completeness of the evaluation, and the data to be reported.
(3) The chemical manufacturer, importer or employer evaluating chemicals shall treat the following sources
as establishing that the chemicals listed in them are hazardous:
(i) 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA); or,
(ii) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents in the Work Environment,
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (latest edition). The chemical
manufacturer, importer, or employer is still responsible for evaluating the hazards associated with the
chemicals in these source lists in accordance with the requirements of this standard.
(4) Chemical manufacturers, importers and employers evaluating chemicals shall treat the following sources
as establishing that a chemical is a carcinogen or potential carcinogen for hazard communication purposes:
(i) National Toxicology Program (NTP), Annual Report on Carcinogens (latest edition);
(ii) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs (latest editions); or
(iii) 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.

Note: The Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances published by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health indicates whether a chemical has been found by NTP or
IARC to be a potential carcinogen.
(5) The chemical manufacturer, importer or employer shall determine the hazards of mixtures of chemicals
as follows:
(i) If a mixture has been tested as a whole to determine its hazards, the results of such testing shall be used
to determine whether the mixture is hazardous;
(ii) If a mixture has not been tested as a whole to determine whether the mixture is a health hazard, the
mixture shall be assumed to present the same health hazards as do the components which comprise one
percent (by weight or volume) or greater of the mixture, except that the mixture shall be assumed to present

a carcinogenic hazard if it contains a component in concentrations of 0.1 percent or greater which is
considered to be a carcinogen under paragraph (d)(4) of this section;
(iii) If a mixture has not been tested as a whole to determine whether the mixture is a physical hazard, the
chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer may use whatever scientifically valid data is available to
evaluate the physical hazard potential of the mixture; and,
(iv) If the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer has evidence to indicate that a component present
in the mixture in concentrations of less than one percent (or in the case of carcinogens, less than 0.1
percent) could be released in concentrations which would exceed an established OSHA permissible
exposure limit or ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, or could present a health risk to employees in those
concentrations, the mixture shall be assumed to present the same hazard.
(6) Chemical manufacturers, importers, or employers evaluating chemicals shall describe in writing the
procedures they use to determine the hazards of the chemical they evaluate. The written procedures are to
be made available, upon request, to employees, their designated representatives, the Assistant Secretary
and the Director. The written description may be incorporated into the written hazard communication
program required under paragraph (e) of this section.
(e) Written hazard communication program. (1) Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each
workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in
paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets,
and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:
(i) A list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using an identity that is referenced on the
appropriate material safety data sheet (the list may be compiled for the workplace as a whole or for
individual work areas); and,
(ii) The methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks (for example,
the cleaning of reactor vessels), and the hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes in
their work areas.
(2) Multi-employer workplaces. Employers who produce, use, or store hazardous chemicals at a workplace
in such a way that the employees of other employer(s) may be exposed (for example, employees of a
construction contractor working on-site) shall additionally ensure that the hazard communication programs
developed and implemented under this paragraph (e) include the following:
(i) The methods the employer will use to provide the other employer(s) on-site access to material safety data
sheets for each hazardous chemical the other employer(s)' employees may be exposed to while working;
(ii) The methods the employer will use to inform the other employer(s) of any precautionary measures that
need to be taken to protect employees during the workplace's normal operating conditions and in
foreseeable emergencies; and,
(iii) The methods the employer will use to inform the other employer(s) of the labeling system used in the
workplace.
(3) The employer may rely on an existing hazard communication program to comply with these
requirements, provided that it meets the criteria established in this paragraph (e).
(4) The employer shall make the written hazard communication program available, upon request, to
employees, their designated representatives, the Assistant Secretary and the Director, in accordance with
the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.20 (e).
(5) Where employees must travel between workplaces during a workshift, i.e., their work is carried out at
more than one geographical location, the written hazard communication program may be kept at the primary
workplace facility.

(f) Labels and other forms of warning. (1) The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor shall ensure
that each container of hazardous chemicals leaving the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with the
following information:
(i) Identity of the hazardous chemical(s);
(ii) Appropriate hazard warnings; and
(iii) Name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party.
(2)(i) For solid metal (such as a steel beam or a metal casting), solid wood, or plastic items that are not
exempted as articles due to their downstream use, or shipments of whole grain, the required label may be
transmitted to the customer at the time of the initial shipment, and need not be included with subsequent
shipments to the same employer unless the information on the label changes;
(ii) The label may be transmitted with the initial shipment itself, or with the material safety data sheet that is
to be provided prior to or at the time of the first shipment; and,
(iii) This exception to requiring labels on every container of hazardous chemicals is only for the solid material
itself, and does not apply to hazardous chemicals used in conjunction with, or known to be present with, the
material and to which employees handling the items in transit may be exposed (for example, cutting fluids or
pesticides in grains).
(3) Chemical manufacturers, importers, or distributors shall ensure that each container of hazardous
chemicals leaving the workplace is labeled, tagged, or marked in accordance with this section in a manner
which does not conflict with the requirements of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C.
1801 et seq. ) and regulations issued under that Act by the Department of Transportation.
(4) If the hazardous chemical is regulated by OSHA in a substance-specific health standard, the chemical
manufacturer, importer, distributor or employer shall ensure that the labels or other forms of warning used
are in accordance with the requirements of that standard.
(5) Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(6) and (f)(7) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each
container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with the following
information:
(i) Identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein; and,
(ii) Appropriate hazard warnings, or alternatively, words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which
provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals, and which, in conjunction with
the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, will
provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous
chemical.
(6) The employer may use signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other
such written materials in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers, as long as the
alternative method identifies the containers to which it is applicable and conveys the information required by
paragraph (f)(5) of this section to be on a label. The written materials shall be readily accessible to the
employees in their work area throughout each work shift.
(7) The employer is not required to label portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred
from labeled containers, and which are intended only for the immediate use of the employee who performs
the transfer. For purposes of this section, drugs which are dispensed by a pharmacy to a health care
provider for direct administration to a patient are exempted from labeling.
(8) The employer shall not remove or deface existing labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals,
unless the container is immediately marked with the required information.

(9) The employer shall ensure that labels or other forms of warning are legible, in English, and prominently
displayed on the container, or readily available in the work area throughout each work shift. Employers
having employees who speak other languages may add the information in their language to the material
presented, as long as the information is presented in English as well.
(10) The chemical manufacturer, importer, distributor or employer need not affix new labels to comply with
this section if existing labels already convey the required information.
(11) Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, or employers who become newly aware of any
significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical shall revise the labels for the chemical within
three months of becoming aware of the new information. Labels on containers of hazardous chemicals
shipped after that time shall contain the new information. If the chemical is not currently produced or
imported, the chemical manufacturer, importers, distributor, or employer shall add the information to the
label before the chemical is shipped or introduced into the workplace again.
(g) Material safety data sheets. (1) Chemical manufacturers and importers shall obtain or develop a material
safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import. Employers shall have a material
safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use.
(2) Each material safety data sheet shall be in English (although the employer may maintain copies in other
languages as well), and shall contain at least the following information:
(i) The identity used on the label, and, except as provided for in paragraph (i) of this section on trade
secrets:
(A) If the hazardous chemical is a single substance, its chemical and common name(s);
(B) If the hazardous chemical is a mixture which has been tested as a whole to determine its hazards, the
chemical and common name(s) of the ingredients which contribute to these known hazards, and the
common name(s) of the mixture itself; or,
(C) If the hazardous chemical is a mixture which has not been tested as a whole:
( 1 ) The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to be health
hazards, and which comprise 1% or greater of the composition, except that chemicals identified as
carcinogens under paragraph (d) of this section shall be listed if the concentrations are 0.1% or greater; and,
( 2 ) The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to be health
hazards, and which comprise less than 1% (0.1% for carcinogens) of the mixture, if there is evidence that
the ingredient(s) could be released from the mixture in concentrations which would exceed an established
OSHA permissible exposure limit or ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, or could present a health risk to
employees; and,
( 3 ) The chemical and common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to present a
physical hazard when present in the mixture;
(ii) Physical and chemical characteristics of the hazardous chemical (such as vapor pressure, flash point);
(iii) The physical hazards of the hazardous chemical, including the potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity;
(iv) The health hazards of the hazardous chemical, including signs and symptoms of exposure, and any
medical conditions which are generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure to the chemical;
(v) The primary route(s) of entry;

(vi) The OSHA permissible exposure limit, ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, and any other exposure limit used
or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the material safety data
sheet, where available;
(vii) Whether the hazardous chemical is listed in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on
Carcinogens (latest edition) or has been found to be a potential carcinogen in the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs (latest editions), or by OSHA;
(viii) Any generally applicable precautions for safe handling and use which are known to the chemical
manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet, including appropriate hygienic
practices, protective measures during repair and maintenance of contaminated equipment, and procedures
for clean-up of spills and leaks;
(ix) Any generally applicable control measures which are known to the chemical manufacturer, importer or
employer preparing the material safety data sheet, such as appropriate engineering controls, work practices,
or personal protective equipment;
(x) Emergency and first aid procedures;
(xi) The date of preparation of the material safety data sheet or the last change to it; and,
(xii) The name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer or other
responsible party preparing or distributing the material safety data sheet, who can provide additional
information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary.
(3) If no relevant information is found for any given category on the material safety data sheet, the chemical
manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet shall mark it to indicate that no
applicable information was found.
(4) Where complex mixtures have similar hazards and contents (i.e. the chemical ingredients are essentially
the same, but the specific composition varies from mixture to mixture), the chemical manufacturer, importer
or employer may prepare one material safety data sheet to apply to all of these similar mixtures.
(5) The chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet shall ensure
that the information recorded accurately reflects the scientific evidence used in making the hazard
determination. If the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer preparing the material safety data sheet
becomes newly aware of any significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical, or ways to protect
against the hazards, this new information shall be added to the material safety data sheet within three
months. If the chemical is not currently being produced or imported the chemical manufacturer or importer
shall add the information to the material safety data sheet before the chemical is introduced into the
workplace again.
(6)(i) Chemical manufacturers or importers shall ensure that distributors and employers are provided an
appropriate material safety data sheet with their initial shipment, and with the first shipment after a material
safety data sheet is updated;
(ii) The chemical manufacturer or importer shall either provide material safety data sheets with the shipped
containers or send them to the distributor or employer prior to or at the time of the shipment;
(iii) If the material safety data sheet is not provided with a shipment that has been labeled as a hazardous
chemical, the distributor or employer shall obtain one from the chemical manufacturer or importer as soon as
possible; and,
(iv) The chemical manufacturer or importer shall also provide distributors or employers with a material safety
data sheet upon request.

(7)(i) Distributors shall ensure that material safety data sheets, and updated information, are provided to
other distributors and employers with their initial shipment and with the first shipment after a material safety
data sheet is updated;
(ii) The distributor shall either provide material safety data sheets with the shipped containers, or send them
to the other distributor or employer prior to or at the time of the shipment;
(iii) Retail distributors selling hazardous chemicals to employers having a commercial account shall provide
a material safety data sheet to such employers upon request, and shall post a sign or otherwise inform them
that a material safety data sheet is available;
(iv) Wholesale distributors selling hazardous chemicals to employers over-the-counter may also provide
material safety data sheets upon the request of the employer at the time of the over-the-counter purchase,
and shall post a sign or otherwise inform such employers that a material safety data sheet is available;
(v) If an employer without a commercial account purchases a hazardous chemical from a retail distributor
not required to have material safety data sheets on file ( i.e., the retail distributor does not have commercial
accounts and does not use the materials), the retail distributor shall provide the employer, upon request,
with the name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor from
which a material safety data sheet can be obtained;
(vi) Wholesale distributors shall also provide material safety data sheets to employers or other distributors
upon request; and,
(vii) Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors need not provide material safety data sheets to
retail distributors that have informed them that the retail distributor does not sell the product to commercial
accounts or open the sealed container to use it in their own workplaces.
(8) The employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required material safety data sheets for each
hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees
when they are in their work area(s). (Electronic access, microfiche, and other alternatives to maintaining
paper copies of the material safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee
access in each workplace are created by such options.)
(9) Where employees must travel between workplaces during a workshift, i.e., their work is carried out at
more than one geographical location, the material safety data sheets may be kept at the primary workplace
facility. In this situation, the employer shall ensure that employees can immediately obtain the required
information in an emergency.
(10) Material safety data sheets may be kept in any form, including operating procedures, and may be
designed to cover groups of hazardous chemicals in a work area where it may be more appropriate to
address the hazards of a process rather than individual hazardous chemicals. However, the employer shall
ensure that in all cases the required information is provided for each hazardous chemical, and is readily
accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in in their work area(s).
(11) Material safety data sheets shall also be made readily available, upon request, to designated
representatives and to the Assistant Secretary, in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.20(e).
The Director shall also be given access to material safety data sheets in the same manner.
(h) Employee information and training. (1) Employers shall provide employees with effective information and
training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a
new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their
work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards ( e.g., flammability,
carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through
labels and material safety data sheets.
(2) Information. Employees shall be informed of:

(i) The requirements of this section;
(ii) Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present; and,
(iii) The location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the required list(s)
of hazardous chemicals, and material safety data sheets required by this section.
(3) Training. Employee training shall include at least:
(i) Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in
the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual
appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);
(ii) The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;
(iii) The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific
procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals,
such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used;
and,
(iv) The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation
of the labeling system and the material safety data sheet, and how employees can obtain and use the
appropriate hazard information.
(i) Trade secrets. (1) The chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer may withhold the specific chemical
identity, including the chemical name and other specific identification of a hazardous chemical, from the
material safety data sheet, provided that:
(i) The claim that the information withheld is a trade secret can be supported;
(ii) Information contained in the material safety data sheet concerning the properties and effects of the
hazardous chemical is disclosed;
(iii) The material safety data sheet indicates that the specific chemical identity is being withheld as a trade
secret; and,
(iv) The specific chemical identity is made available to health professionals, employees, and designated
representatives in accordance with the applicable provisions of this paragraph.
(2) Where a treating physician or nurse determines that a medical emergency exists and the specific
chemical identity of a hazardous chemical is necessary for emergency or first-aid treatment, the chemical
manufacturer, importer, or employer shall immediately disclose the specific chemical identity of a trade
secret chemical to that treating physician or nurse, regardless of the existence of a written statement of need
or a confidentiality agreement. The chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer may require a written
statement of need and confidentiality agreement, in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (i) (3) and
(4) of this section, as soon as circumstances permit.
(3) In non-emergency situations, a chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer shall, upon request,
disclose a specific chemical identity, otherwise permitted to be withheld under paragraph (i)(1) of this
section, to a health professional (i.e. physician, industrial hygienist, toxicologist, epidemiologist, or
occupational health nurse) providing medical or other occupational health services to exposed employee(s),
and to employees or designated representatives, if:
(i) The request is in writing;

(ii) The request describes with reasonable detail one or more of the following occupational health needs for
the information:
(A) To assess the hazards of the chemicals to which employees will be exposed;
(B) To conduct or assess sampling of the workplace atmosphere to determine employee exposure levels;
(C) To conduct pre-assignment or periodic medical surveillance of exposed employees;
(D) To provide medical treatment to exposed employees;
(E) To select or assess appropriate personal protective equipment for exposed employees;
(F) To design or assess engineering controls or other protective measures for exposed employees; and,
(G) To conduct studies to determine the health effects of exposure.
(iii) The request explains in detail why the disclosure of the specific chemical identity is essential and that, in
lieu thereof, the disclosure of the following information to the health professional, employee, or designated
representative, would not satisfy the purposes described in paragraph (i)(3)(ii) of this section:
(A) The properties and effects of the chemical;
(B) Measures for controlling workers' exposure to the chemical;
(C) Methods of monitoring and analyzing worker exposure to the chemical; and,
(D) Methods of diagnosing and treating harmful exposures to the chemical;
(iv) The request includes a description of the procedures to be used to maintain the confidentiality of the
disclosed information; and,
(v) The health professional, and the employer or contractor of the services of the health professional (i.e.
downstream employer, labor organization, or individual employee), employee, or designated representative,
agree in a written confidentiality agreement that the health professional, employee, or designated
representative, will not use the trade secret information for any purpose other than the health need(s)
asserted and agree not to release the information under any circumstances other than to OSHA, as provided
in paragraph (i)(6) of this section, except as authorized by the terms of the agreement or by the chemical
manufacturer, importer, or employer.
(4) The confidentiality agreement authorized by paragraph (i)(3)(iv) of this section:
(i) May restrict the use of the information to the health purposes indicated in the written statement of need;
(ii) May provide for appropriate legal remedies in the event of a breach of the agreement, including
stipulation of a reasonable pre-estimate of likely damages; and,
(iii) May not include requirements for the posting of a penalty bond.
(5) Nothing in this standard is meant to preclude the parties from pursuing non-contractual remedies to the
extent permitted by law.
(6) If the health professional, employee, or designated representative receiving the trade secret information
decides that there is a need to disclose it to OSHA, the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer who

provided the information shall be informed by the health professional, employee, or designated
representative prior to, or at the same time as, such disclosure.
(7) If the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer denies a written request for disclosure of a specific
chemical identity, the denial must:
(i) Be provided to the health professional, employee, or designated representative, within thirty days of the
request;
(ii) Be in writing;
(iii) Include evidence to support the claim that the specific chemical identity is a trade secret;
(iv) State the specific reasons why the request is being denied; and,
(v) Explain in detail how alternative information may satisfy the specific medical or occupational health need
without revealing the specific chemical identity.
(8) The health professional, employee, or designated representative whose request for information is denied
under paragraph (i)(3) of this section may refer the request and the written denial of the request to OSHA for
consideration.
(9) When a health professional, employee, or designated representative refers the denial to OSHA under
paragraph (i)(8) of this section, OSHA shall consider the evidence to determine if:
(i) The chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer has supported the claim that the specific chemical
identity is a trade secret;
(ii) The health professional, employee, or designated representative has supported the claim that there is a
medical or occupational health need for the information; and,
(iii) The health professional, employee or designated representative has demonstrated adequate means to
protect the confidentiality.
(10)(i) If OSHA determines that the specific chemical identity requested under paragraph (i)(3) of this section
is not a bona fide trade secret, or that it is a trade secret, but the requesting health professional, employee,
or designated representative has a legitimate medical or occupational health need for the information, has
executed a written confidentiality agreement, and has shown adequate means to protect the confidentiality
of the information, the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer will be subject to citation by OSHA.
(ii) If a chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer demonstrates to OSHA that the execution of a
confidentiality agreement would not provide sufficient protection against the potential harm from the
unauthorized disclosure of a trade secret specific chemical identity, the Assistant Secretary may issue such
orders or impose such additional limitations or conditions upon the disclosure of the requested chemical
information as may be appropriate to assure that the occupational health services are provided without an
undue risk of harm to the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer.
(11) If a citation for a failure to release specific chemical identity information is contested by the chemical
manufacturer, importer, or employer, the matter will be adjudicated before the Occupational Safety and
Health Review Commission in accordance with the Act's enforcement scheme and the applicable
Commission rules of procedure. In accordance with the Commission rules, when a chemical manufacturer,
importer, or employer continues to withhold the information during the contest, the Administrative Law Judge
may review the citation and supporting documentation in camera or issue appropriate orders to protect the
confidentiality of such matters.
(12) Notwithstanding the existence of a trade secret claim, a chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer
shall, upon request, disclose to the Assistant Secretary any information which this section requires the

chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer to make available. Where there is a trade secret claim, such
claim shall be made no later than at the time the information is provided to the Assistant Secretary so that
suitable determinations of trade secret status can be made and the necessary protections can be
implemented.
(13) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as requiring the disclosure under any circumstances of
process or percentage of mixture information which is a trade secret.
(j) Effective dates. Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers shall be in compliance
with all provisions of this section by March 11, 1994.

Note: The effective date of the clarification that the exemption of wood and wood products from
the Hazard Communication standard in paragraph (b)(6)(iv) only applies to wood and wood
products including lumber which will not be processed, where the manufacturer or importer can
establish that the only hazard they pose to employees is the potential for flammability or
combustibility, and that the exemption does not apply to wood or wood products which have been
treated with a hazardous chemical covered by this standard, and wood which may be
subsequently sawed or cut generating dust has been stayed from March 11, 1994 to August 11,
1994.
Appendix A to §1910.1200—Health Hazard Definitions (Mandatory)
Although safety hazards related to the physical characteristics of a chemical can be objectively
defined in terms of testing requirements (e.g. flammability), health hazard definitions are less
precise and more subjective. Health hazards may cause measurable changes in the body—such
as decreased pulmonary function. These changes are generally indicated by the occurrence of
signs and symptoms in the exposed employees—such as shortness of breath, a non-measurable,
subjective feeling. Employees exposed to such hazards must be apprised of both the change in
body function and the signs and symptoms that may occur to signal that change.
The determination of occupational health hazards is complicated by the fact that many of the
effects or signs and symptoms occur commonly in non-occupationally exposed populations, so
that effects of exposure are difficult to separate from normally occurring illnesses. Occasionally, a
substance causes an effect that is rarely seen in the population at large, such as angiosarcomas
caused by vinyl chloride exposure, thus making it easier to ascertain that the occupational
exposure was the primary causative factor. More often, however, the effects are common, such
as lung cancer. The situation is further complicated by the fact that most chemicals have not been
adequately tested to determine their health hazard potential, and data do not exist to substantiate
these effects.
There have been many attempts to categorize effects and to define them in various ways.
Generally, the terms “acute” and “chronic” are used to delineate between effects on the basis of
severity or duration. “Acute” effects usually occur rapidly as a result of short-term exposures, and
are of short duration. “Chronic” effects generally occur as a result of long-term exposure, and are
of long duration.
The acute effects referred to most frequently are those defined by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) standard for Precautionary Labeling of Hazardous Industrial
Chemicals (Z129.1–1988)—irritation, corrosivity, sensitization and lethal dose. Although these are
important health effects, they do not adequately cover the considerable range of acute effects
which may occur as a result of occupational exposure, such as, for example, narcosis.
Similarly, the term chronic effect is often used to cover only carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and
mutagenicity. These effects are obviously a concern in the workplace, but again, do not

adequately cover the area of chronic effects, excluding, for example, blood dyscrasias (such as
anemia), chronic bronchitis and liver atrophy.
The goal of defining precisely, in measurable terms, every possible health effect that may occur in
the workplace as a result of chemical exposures cannot realistically be accomplished. This does
not negate the need for employees to be informed of such effects and protected from them.
Appendix B, which is also mandatory, outlines the principles and procedures of hazard
assessment.
For purposes of this section, any chemicals which meet any of the following definitions, as
determined by the criteria set forth in Appendix B are health hazards. However, this is not
intended to be an exclusive categorization scheme. If there are available scientific data that
involve other animal species or test methods, they must also be evaluated to determine the
applicability of the HCS.7
1. Carcinogen: A chemical is considered to be a carcinogen if:
(a) It has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and found
to be a carcinogen or potential carcinogen; or
(b) It is listed as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen in the Annual Report on Carcinogens
published by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) (latest edition); or,
(c) It is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen.
2. Corrosive: A chemical that causes visible destruction of, or irreversible alterations in, living
tissue by chemical action at the site of contact. For example, a chemical is considered to be
corrosive if, when tested on the intact skin of albino rabbits by the method described by the U.S.
Department of Transportation in appendix A to 49 CFR part 173, it destroys or changes
irreversibly the structure of the tissue at the site of contact following an exposure period of four
hours. This term shall not refer to action on inanimate surfaces.
3. Highly toxic: A chemical falling within any of the following categories:
(a) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD50) of 50 milligrams or less per kilogram of body
weight when administered orally to albino rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams each.
(b) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD50) of 200 milligrams or less per kilogram of body
weight when administered by continuous contact for 24 hours (or less if death occurs within 24
hours) with the bare skin of albino rabbits weighing between two and three kilograms each.
(c) A chemical that has a median lethal concentration (LC50) in air of 200 parts per million by
volume or less of gas or vapor, or 2 milligrams per liter or less of mist, fume, or dust, when
administered by continuous inhalation for one hour (or less if death occurs within one hour) to
albino rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams each.
4. Irritant: A chemical, which is not corrosive, but which causes a reversible inflammatory effect
on living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact. A chemical is a skin irritant if, when
tested on the intact skin of albino rabbits by the methods of 16 CFR 1500.41 for four hours
exposure or by other appropriate techniques, it results in an empirical score of five or more. A
chemical is an eye irritant if so determined under the procedure listed in 16 CFR 1500.42 or other
appropriate techniques.

5. Sensitizer: A chemical that causes a substantial proportion of exposed people or animals to
develop an allergic reaction in normal tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical.
6. Toxic. A chemical falling within any of the following categories:
(a) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD50) of more than 50 milligrams per kilogram but
not more than 500 milligrams per kilogram of body weight when administered orally to albino rats
weighing between 200 and 300 grams each.
(b) A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD50) of more than 200 milligrams per kilogram but
not more than 1,000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight when administered by continuous
contact for 24 hours (or less if death occurs within 24 hours) with the bare skin of albino rabbits
weighing between two and three kilograms each.
(c) A chemical that has a median lethal concentration (LC50) in air of more than 200 parts per
million but not more than 2,000 parts per million by volume of gas or vapor, or more than two
milligrams per liter but not more than 20 milligrams per liter of mist, fume, or dust, when
administered by continuous inhalation for one hour (or less if death occurs within one hour) to
albino rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams each.
7. Target organ effects.
The following is a target organ categorization of effects which may occur, including examples of
signs and symptoms and chemicals which have been found to cause such effects. These
examples are presented to illustrate the range and diversity of effects and hazards found in the
workplace, and the broad scope employers must consider in this area, but are not intended to be
all-inclusive.
a. Hepatotoxins: Chemicals which produce liver damage3
Signs & Symptoms: Jaundice; liver enlargement
Chemicals: Carbon tetrachloride; nitrosamines
b. Nephrotoxins: Chemicals which produce kidney damage
Signs & Symptoms: Edema; proteinuria
Chemicals: Halogenated hydrocarbons; uranium
c. Neurotoxins: Chemicals which produce their primary toxic effects on the nervous system
Signs & Symptoms: Narcosis; behavioral changes; decrease in motor functions
Chemicals: Mercury; carbon disulfide
d. Agents which act on the blood or hemato-poietic system: Decrease hemoglobin function;
deprive the body tissues of oxygen
Signs & Symptoms: Cyanosis; loss of consciousness
Chemicals: Carbon monoxide; cyanides

e. Agents which damage the lung: Chemicals which irritate or damage pulmonary tissue
Signs & Symptoms: Cough; tightness in chest; shortness of breath
Chemicals: Silica; asbestos
f. Reproductive toxins: Chemicals which affect the reproductive capabilities including
chromosomal damage (mutations) and effects on fetuses (teratogenesis)
Signs & Symptoms: Birth defects; sterility
Chemicals: Lead; DBCP
g. Cutaneous hazards: Chemicals which affect the dermal layer of the body
Signs & Symptoms: Defatting of the skin; rashes; irritation
Chemicals: Ketones; chlorinated compounds
h. Eye hazards: Chemicals which affect the eye or visual capacity
Signs & Symptoms: Conjunctivitis; corneal damage
Chemicals: Organic solvents; acids
Appendix B to §1910.1200—Hazard Determination (Mandatory)
The quality of a hazard communication program is largely dependent upon the adequacy and
accuracy of the hazard determination. The hazard determination requirement of this standard is
performance-oriented. Chemical manufacturers, importers, and employers evaluating chemicals
are not required to follow any specific methods for determining hazards, but they must be able to
demonstrate that they have adequately ascertained the hazards of the chemicals produced or
imported in accordance with the criteria set forth in this Appendix.
Hazard evaluation is a process which relies heavily on the professional judgment of the evaluator,
particularly in the area of chronic hazards. The performance-orientation of the hazard
determination does not diminish the duty of the chemical manufacturer, importer or employer to
conduct a thorough evaluation, examining all relevant data and producing a scientifically
defensible evaluation. For purposes of this standard, the following criteria shall be used in making
hazard determinations that meet the requirements of this standard.
1. Carcinogenicity: As described in paragraph (d)(4) of this section and Appendix A of this
section, a determination by the National Toxicology Program, the International Agency for
Research on Cancer, or OSHA that a chemical is a carcinogen or potential carcinogen will be
considered conclusive evidence for purposes of this section. In addition, however, all available
scientific data on carcinogenicity must be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of this
Appendix and the requirements of the rule.
2. Human data: Where available, epidemiological studies and case reports of adverse health
effects shall be considered in the evaluation.

3. Animal data: Human evidence of health effects in exposed populations is generally not
available for the majority of chemicals produced or used in the workplace. Therefore, the
available results of toxicological testing in animal populations shall be used to predict the health
effects that may be experienced by exposed workers. In particular, the definitions of certain acute
hazards refer to specific animal testing results (see Appendix A).
4. Adequacy and reporting of data. The results of any studies which are designed and conducted
according to established scientific principles, and which report statistically significant conclusions
regarding the health effects of a chemical, shall be a sufficient basis for a hazard determination
and reported on any material safety data sheet. In vitro studies alone generally do not form the
basis for a definitive finding of hazard under the HCS since they have a positive or negative result
rather than a statistically significant finding.
The chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer may also report the results of other
scientifically valid studies which tend to refute the findings of hazard.
Appendix C to §1910.1200 [Reserved]
Appendix D to §1910.1200—Definition of “Trade Secret” (Mandatory)
The following is a reprint of the Restatement of Torts section 757, comment b (1939):
b. Definition of trade secret. A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device or
compilation of information which is used in one's business, and which gives him an opportunity to
obtain an advantage over competitors who do not know or use it. It may be a formula for a
chemical compound, a process of manufacturing, treating or preserving materials, a pattern for a
machine or other device, or a list of customers. It differs from other secret information in a
business (see s759 of the Restatement of Torts which is not included in this Appendix) in that it is
not simply information as to single or ephemeral events in the conduct of the business, as, for
example, the amount or other terms of a secret bid for a contract or the salary of certain
employees, or the security investments made or contemplated, or the date fixed for the
announcement of a new policy or for bringing out a new model or the like. A trade secret is a
process or device for continuous use in the operations of the business. Generally it relates to the
production of goods, as, for example, a machine or formula for the production of an article. It may,
however, relate to the sale of goods or to other operations in the business, such as a code for
determining discounts, rebates or other concessions in a price list or catalogue, or a list of
specialized customers, or a method of bookkeeping or other office management.
Secrecy. The subject matter of a trade secret must be secret. Matters of public knowledge or of
general knowledge in an industry cannot be appropriated by one as his secret. Matters which are
completely disclosed by the goods which one markets cannot be his secret. Substantially, a trade
secret is known only in the particular business in which it is used. It is not requisite that only the
proprietor of the business know it. He may, without losing his protection, communicate it to
employees involved in its use. He may likewise communicate it to others pledged to secrecy.
Others may also know of it independently, as, for example, when they have discovered the
process or formula by independent invention and are keeping it secret. Nevertheless, a
substantial element of secrecy must exist, so that, except by the use of improper means, there
would be difficulty in acquiring the information. An exact definition of a trade secret is not
possible. Some factors to be considered in determining whether given information is one's trade
secret are: (1) The extent to which the information is known outside of his business; (2) the extent
to which it is known by employees and others involved in his business; (3) the extent of measures
taken by him to guard the secrecy of the information; (4) the value of the information to him and
his competitors; (5) the amount of effort or money expended by him in developing the information;

(6) the ease or difficulty with which the information could be properly acquired or duplicated by
others.
Novelty and prior art. A trade secret may be a device or process which is patentable; but it need
not be that. It may be a device or process which is clearly anticipated in the prior art or one which
is merely a mechanical improvement that a good mechanic can make. Novelty and invention are
not requisite for a trade secret as they are for patentability. These requirements are essential to
patentability because a patent protects against unlicensed use of the patented device or process
even by one who discovers it properly through independent research. The patent monopoly is a
reward to the inventor. But such is not the case with a trade secret. Its protection is not based on
a policy of rewarding or otherwise encouraging the development of secret processes or devices.
The protection is merely against breach of faith and reprehensible means of learning another's
secret. For this limited protection it is not appropriate to require also the kind of novelty and
invention which is a requisite of patentability. The nature of the secret is, however, an important
factor in determining the kind of relief that is appropriate against one who is subject to liability
under the rule stated in this Section. Thus, if the secret consists of a device or process which is a
novel invention, one who acquires the secret wrongfully is ordinarily enjoined from further use of it
and is required to account for the profits derived from his past use. If, on the other hand, the
secret consists of mechanical improvements that a good mechanic can make without resort to the
secret, the wrongdoer's liability may be limited to damages, and an injunction against future use
of the improvements made with the aid of the secret may be inappropriate.
Appendix E to §1910.1200—(Advisory)—Guidelines for Employer Compliance
The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is based on a simple concept—that employees
have both a need and a right to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are
exposed to when working. They also need to know what protective measures are available to
prevent adverse effects from occurring. The HCS is designed to provide employees with the
information they need.
Knowledge acquired under the HCS will help employers provide safer workplaces for their
employees. When employers have information about the chemicals being used, they can take
steps to reduce exposures, substitute less hazardous materials, and establish proper work
practices. These efforts will help prevent the occurrence of work-related illnesses and injuries
caused by chemicals.
The HCS addresses the issues of evaluating and communicating hazards to workers. Evaluation
of chemical hazards involves a number of technical concepts, and is a process that requires the
professional judgment of experienced experts. That's why the HCS is designed so that employers
who simply use chemicals, rather than produce or import them, are not required to evaluate the
hazards of those chemicals. Hazard determination is the responsibility of the producers and
importers of the materials. Producers and importers of chemicals are then required to provide the
hazard information to employers that purchase their products.
Employers that don't produce or import chemicals need only focus on those parts of the rule that
deal with establishing a workplace program and communicating information to their workers. This
appendix is a general guide for such employers to help them determine what's required under the
rule. It does not supplant or substitute for the regulatory provisions, but rather provides a
simplified outline of the steps an average employer would follow to meet those requirements.
1. Becoming Familiar With The Rule.
OSHA has provided a simple summary of the HCS in a pamphlet entitled “Chemical Hazard
Communication,” OSHA Publication Number 3084. Some employers prefer to begin to become

familiar with the rule's requirements by reading this pamphlet. A copy may be obtained from your
local OSHA Area Office, or by contacting the OSHA Publications Office at (202) 523–9667.
The standard is long, and some parts of it are technical, but the basic concepts are simple. In
fact, the requirements reflect what many employers have been doing for years. You may find that
you are already largely in compliance with many of the provisions, and will simply have to modify
your existing programs somewhat. If you are operating in an OSHA-approved State Plan State,
you must comply with the State's requirements, which may be different than those of the Federal
rule. Many of the State Plan States had hazard communication or “right-to-know” laws prior to
promulgation of the Federal rule. Employers in State Plan States should contact their State OSHA
offices for more information regarding applicable requirements.
The HCS requires information to be prepared and transmitted regarding all hazardous chemicals.
The HCS covers both physical hazards (such as flammability), and health hazards (such as
irritation, lung damage, and cancer). Most chemicals used in the workplace have some hazard
potential, and thus will be covered by the rule.
One difference between this rule and many others adopted by OSHA is that this one is
performance-oriented. That means that you have the flexibility to adapt the rule to the needs of
your workplace, rather than having to follow specific, rigid requirements. It also means that you
have to exercise more judgment to implement an appropriate and effective program.
The standard's design is simple. Chemical manufacturers and importers must evaluate the
hazards of the chemicals they produce or import. Using that information, they must then prepare
labels for containers, and more detailed technical bulletins called material safety data sheets
(MSDS).
Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors of hazardous chemicals are all required to
provide the appropriate labels and material safety data sheets to the employers to which they
ship the chemicals. The information is to be provided automatically. Every container of hazardous
chemicals you receive must be labeled, tagged, or marked with the required information. Your
suppliers must also send you a properly completed material safety data sheet (MSDS) at the time
of the first shipment of the chemical, and with the next shipment after the MSDS is updated with
new and significant information about the hazards.
You can rely on the information received from your suppliers. You have no independent duty to
analyze the chemical or evaluate the hazards of it.
Employers that “use” hazardous chemicals must have a program to ensure the information is
provided to exposed employees. “Use” means to package, handle, react, or transfer. This is an
intentionally broad scope, and includes any situation where a chemical is present in such a way
that employees may be exposed under normal conditions of use or in a foreseeable emergency.
The requirements of the rule that deal specifically with the hazard communication program are
found in this section in paragraphs (e), written hazard communication program; (f), labels and
other forms of warning; (g), material safety data sheets; and (h), employee information and
training. The requirements of these paragraphs should be the focus of your attention.
Concentrate on becoming familiar with them, using paragraphs (b), scope and application, and
(c), definitions, as references when needed to help explain the provisions.
There are two types of work operations where the coverage of the rule is limited. These are
laboratories and operations where chemicals are only handled in sealed containers ( e.g ., a
warehouse). The limited provisions for these workplaces can be found in paragraph (b) of this
section, scope and application. Basically, employers having these types of work operations need

only keep labels on containers as they are received; maintain material safety data sheets that are
received, and give employees access to them; and provide information and training for
employees. Employers do not have to have written hazard communication programs and lists of
chemicals for these types of operations.
The limited coverage of laboratories and sealed container operations addresses the obligation of
an employer to the workers in the operations involved, and does not affect the employer's duties
as a distributor of chemicals. For example, a distributor may have warehouse operations where
employees would be protected under the limited sealed container provisions. In this situation,
requirements for obtaining and maintaining MSDSs are limited to providing access to those
received with containers while the substance is in the workplace, and requesting MSDSs when
employees request access for those not received with the containers. However, as a distributor of
hazardous chemicals, that employer will still have responsibilities for providing MSDSs to
downstream customers at the time of the first shipment and when the MSDS is updated.
Therefore, although they may not be required for the employees in the work operation, the
distributor may, nevertheless, have to have MSDSs to satisfy other requirements of the rule.
2. Identify Responsible Staff
Hazard communication is going to be a continuing program in your facility. Compliance with the
HCS is not a “one shot deal.” In order to have a successful program, it will be necessary to assign
responsibility for both the initial and ongoing activities that have to be undertaken to comply with
the rule. In some cases, these activities may already be part of current job assignments. For
example, site supervisors are frequently responsible for on-the-job training sessions. Early
identification of the responsible employees, and involvement of them in the development of your
plan of action, will result in a more effective program design. Evaluation of the effectiveness of
your program will also be enhanced by involvement of affected employees.
For any safety and health program, success depends on commitment at every level of the
organization. This is particularly true for hazard communication, where success requires a
change in behavior. This will only occur if employers understand the program, and are committed
to its success, and if employees are motivated by the people presenting the information to them.
3. Identify Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace.
The standard requires a list of hazardous chemicals in the workplace as part of the written hazard
communication program. The list will eventually serve as an inventory of everything for which an
MSDS must be maintained. At this point, however, preparing the list will help you complete the
rest of the program since it will give you some idea of the scope of the program required for
compliance in your facility.
The best way to prepare a comprehensive list is to survey the workplace. Purchasing records
may also help, and certainly employers should establish procedures to ensure that in the future
purchasing procedures result in MSDSs being received before a material is used in the
workplace.
The broadest possible perspective should be taken when doing the survey. Sometimes people
think of “chemicals” as being only liquids in containers. The HCS covers chemicals in all physical
forms—liquids, solids, gases, vapors, fumes, and mists—whether they are “contained” or not. The
hazardous nature of the chemical and the potential for exposure are the factors which determine
whether a chemical is covered. If it's not hazardous, it's not covered. If there is no potential for
exposure (e.g., the chemical is inextricably bound and cannot be released), the rule does not
cover the chemical.

Look around. Identify chemicals in containers, including pipes, but also think about chemicals
generated in the work operations. For example, welding fumes, dusts, and exhaust fumes are all
sources of chemical exposures. Read labels provided by suppliers for hazard information. Make a
list of all chemicals in the workplace that are potentially hazardous. For your own information and
planning, you may also want to note on the list the location(s) of the products within the
workplace, and an indication of the hazards as found on the label. This will help you as you
prepare the rest of your program.
Paragraph (b) of this section, scope and application, includes exemptions for various chemicals
or workplace situations. After compiling the complete list of chemicals, you should review
paragraph (b) of this section to determine if any of the items can be eliminated from the list
because they are exempted materials. For example, food, drugs, and cosmetics brought into the
workplace for employee consumption are exempt. So rubbing alcohol in the first aid kit would not
be covered.
Once you have compiled as complete a list as possible of the potentially hazardous chemicals in
the workplace, the next step is to determine if you have received material safety data sheets for
all of them. Check your files against the inventory you have just compiled. If any are missing,
contact your supplier and request one. It is a good idea to document these requests, either by
copy of a letter or a note regarding telephone conversations. If you have MSDSs for chemicals
that are not on your list, figure out why. Maybe you don't use the chemical anymore. Or maybe
you missed it in your survey. Some suppliers do provide MSDSs for products that are not
hazardous. These do not have to be maintained by you.
You should not allow employees to use any chemicals for which you have not received an MSDS.
The MSDS provides information you need to ensure proper protective measures are implemented
prior to exposure.
4. Preparing and Implementing a Hazard Communication Program
All workplaces where employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals must have a written plan
which describes how the standard will be implemented in that facility. Preparation of a plan is not
just a paper exercise—all of the elements must be implemented in the workplace in order to be in
compliance with the rule. See paragraph (e) of this section for the specific requirements regarding
written hazard communication programs. The only work operations which do not have to comply
with the written plan requirements are laboratories and work operations where employees only
handle chemicals in sealed containers. See paragraph (b) of this section, scope and application,
for the specific requirements for these two types of workplaces.
The plan does not have to be lengthy or complicated. It is intended to be a blueprint for
implementation of your program—an assurance that all aspects of the requirements have been
addressed.
Many trade associations and other professional groups have provided sample programs and
other assistance materials to affected employers. These have been very helpful to many
employers since they tend to be tailored to the particular industry involved. You may wish to
investigate whether your industry trade groups have developed such materials.
Although such general guidance may be helpful, you must remember that the written program
has to reflect what you are doing in your workplace. Therefore, if you use a generic program it
must be adapted to address the facility it covers. For example, the written plan must list the
chemicals present at the site, indicate who is to be responsible for the various aspects of the
program in your facility, and indicate where written materials will be made available to employees.

If OSHA inspects your workplace for compliance with the HCS, the OSHA compliance officer will
ask to see your written plan at the outset of the inspection. In general, the following items will be
considered in evaluating your program.
The written program must describe how the requirements for labels and other forms of warning,
material safety data sheets, and employee information and training, are going to be met in your
facility. The following discussion provides the type of information compliance officers will be
looking for to decide whether these elements of the hazard communication program have been
properly addressed:
A. Labels and Other Forms of Warning
In-plant containers of hazardous chemicals must be labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity
of the material and appropriate hazard warnings. Chemical manufacturers, importers, and
distributors are required to ensure that every container of hazardous chemicals they ship is
appropriately labeled with such information and with the name and address of the producer or
other responsible party. Employers purchasing chemicals can rely on the labels provided by their
suppliers. If the material is subsequently transferred by the employer from a labeled container to
another container, the employer will have to label that container unless it is subject to the portable
container exemption. See paragraph (f) of this section for specific labeling requirements.
The primary information to be obtained from an OSHA-required label is an identity for the
material, and appropriate hazard warnings. The identity is any term which appears on the label,
the MSDS, and the list of chemicals, and thus links these three sources of information. The
identity used by the supplier may be a common or trade name (“Black Magic Formula”), or a
chemical name (1,1,1,-trichloroethane). The hazard warning is a brief statement of the hazardous
effects of the chemical (“flammable,” “causes lung damage”). Labels frequently contain other
information, such as precautionary measures (“do not use near open flame”), but this information
is provided voluntarily and is not required by the rule. Labels must be legible, and prominently
displayed. There are no specific requirements for size or color, or any specified text.
With these requirements in mind, the compliance officer will be looking for the following types of
information to ensure that labeling will be properly implemented in your facility:
1. Designation of person(s) responsible for ensuring labeling of in-plant containers;
2. Designation of person(s) responsible for ensuring labeling of any shipped containers;
3. Description of labeling system(s) used;
4. Description of written alternatives to labeling of in-plant containers (if used); and,
5. Procedures to review and update label information when necessary.
Employers that are purchasing and using hazardous chemicals—rather than producing or
distributing them—will primarily be concerned with ensuring that every purchased container is
labeled. If materials are transferred into other containers, the employer must ensure that these
are labeled as well, unless they fall under the portable container exemption (paragraph (f)(7) of
this section). In terms of labeling systems, you can simply choose to use the labels provided by
your suppliers on the containers. These will generally be verbal text labels, and do not usually
include numerical rating systems or symbols that require special training. The most important
thing to remember is that this is a continuing duty—all in-plant containers of hazardous chemicals
must always be labeled. Therefore, it is important to designate someone to be responsible for

ensuring that the labels are maintained as required on the containers in your facility, and that
newly purchased materials are checked for labels prior to use.
B. Material Safety Data Sheets
Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to obtain or develop a material safety data
sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import. Distributors are responsible for
ensuring that their customers are provided a copy of these MSDSs. Employers must have an
MSDS for each hazardous chemical which they use. Employers may rely on the information
received from their suppliers. The specific requirements for material safety data sheets are in
paragraph (g) of this section.
There is no specified format for the MSDS under the rule, although there are specific information
requirements. OSHA has developed a non-mandatory format, OSHA Form 174, which may be
used by chemical manufacturers and importers to comply with the rule. The MSDS must be in
English. You are entitled to receive from your supplier a data sheet which includes all of the
information required under the rule. If you do not receive one automatically, you should request
one. If you receive one that is obviously inadequate, with, for example, blank spaces that are not
completed, you should request an appropriately completed one. If your request for a data sheet
or for a corrected data sheet does not produce the information needed, you should contact your
local OSHA Area Office for assistance in obtaining the MSDS.
The role of MSDSs under the rule is to provide detailed information on each hazardous chemical,
including its potential hazardous effects, its physical and chemical characteristics, and
recommendations for appropriate protective measures. This information should be useful to you
as the employer responsible for designing protective programs, as well as to the workers. If you
are not familiar with material safety data sheets and with chemical terminology, you may need to
learn to use them yourself. A glossary of MSDS terms may be helpful in this regard. Generally
speaking, most employers using hazardous chemicals will primarily be concerned with MSDS
information regarding hazardous effects and recommended protective measures. Focus on the
sections of the MSDS that are applicable to your situation.
MSDSs must be readily accessible to employees when they are in their work areas during their
workshifts. This may be accomplished in many different ways. You must decide what is
appropriate for your particular workplace. Some employers keep the MSDSs in a binder in a
central location ( e.g., in the pick-up truck on a construction site). Others, particularly in
workplaces with large numbers of chemicals, computerize the information and provide access
through terminals. As long as employees can get the information when they need it, any
approach may be used. The employees must have access to the MSDSs themselves—simply
having a system where the information can be read to them over the phone is only permitted
under the mobile worksite provision, paragraph (g)(9) of this section, when employees must travel
between workplaces during the shift. In this situation, they have access to the MSDSs prior to
leaving the primary worksite, and when they return, so the telephone system is simply an
emergency arrangement.
In order to ensure that you have a current MSDS for each chemical in the plant as required, and
that employee access is provided, the compliance officers will be looking for the following types of
information in your written program:
1. Designation of person(s) responsible for obtaining and maintaining the MSDSs;
2. How such sheets are to be maintained in the workplace ( e.g., in notebooks in the work area(s)
or in a computer with terminal access), and how employees can obtain access to them when they
are in their work area during the work shift;

3. Procedures to follow when the MSDS is not received at the time of the first shipment;
4. For producers, procedures to update the MSDS when new and significant health information is
found; and,
5. Description of alternatives to actual data sheets in the workplace, if used.
For employers using hazardous chemicals, the most important aspect of the written program in
terms of MSDSs is to ensure that someone is responsible for obtaining and maintaining the
MSDSs for every hazardous chemical in the workplace. The list of hazardous chemicals required
to be maintained as part of the written program will serve as an inventory. As new chemicals are
purchased, the list should be updated. Many companies have found it convenient to include on
their purchase orders the name and address of the person designated in their company to receive
MSDSs.
C. Employee Information and Training
Each employee who may be “exposed” to hazardous chemicals when working must be provided
information and trained prior to initial assignment to work with a hazardous chemical, and
whenever the hazard changes. “Exposure” or “exposed” under the rule means that “an employee
is subjected to a hazardous chemical in the course of employment through any route of entry
(inhalation, ingestion, skin contact or absorption, etc.) and includes potential ( e.g., accidental or
possible) exposure.” See paragraph (h) of this section for specific requirements. Information and
training may be done either by individual chemical, or by categories of hazards (such as
flammability or carcinogenicity). If there are only a few chemicals in the workplace, then you may
want to discuss each one individually. Where there are large numbers of chemicals, or the
chemicals change frequently, you will probably want to train generally based on the hazard
categories ( e.g., flammable liquids, corrosive materials, carcinogens). Employees will have
access to the substance-specific information on the labels and MSDSs.
Information and training is a critical part of the hazard communication program. Information
regarding hazards and protective measures are provided to workers through written labels and
material safety data sheets. However, through effective information and training, workers will
learn to read and understand such information, determine how it can be obtained and used in
their own workplaces, and understand the risks of exposure to the chemicals in their workplaces
as well as the ways to protect themselves. A properly conducted training program will ensure
comprehension and understanding. It is not sufficient to either just read material to the workers,
or simply hand them material to read. You want to create a climate where workers feel free to ask
questions. This will help you to ensure that the information is understood. You must always
remember that the underlying purpose of the HCS is to reduce the incidence of chemical source
illnesses and injuries. This will be accomplished by modifying behavior through the provision of
hazard information and information about protective measures. If your program works, you and
your workers will better understand the chemical hazards within the workplace. The procedures
you establish regarding, for example, purchasing, storage, and handling of these chemicals will
improve, and thereby reduce the risks posed to employees exposed to the chemical hazards
involved. Furthermore, your workers' comprehension will also be increased, and proper work
practices will be followed in your workplace.
If you are going to do the training yourself, you will have to understand the material and be
prepared to motivate the workers to learn. This is not always an easy task, but the benefits are
worth the effort. More information regarding appropriate training can be found in OSHA
Publication No. 2254 which contains voluntary training guidelines prepared by OSHA's Training
Institute. A copy of this document is available from OSHA's Publications Office at (202) 219–
4667.

In reviewing your written program with regard to information and training, the following items need
to be considered:
1. Designation of person(s) responsible for conducting training;
2. Format of the program to be used (audiovisuals, classroom instruction, etc.);
3. Elements of the training program (should be consistent with the elements in paragraph (h) of
this section); and,
4. Procedure to train new employees at the time of their initial assignment to work with a
hazardous chemical, and to train employees when a new hazard is introduced into the workplace.
The written program should provide enough details about the employer's plans in this area to
assess whether or not a good faith effort is being made to train employees. OSHA does not
expect that every worker will be able to recite all of the information about each chemical in the
workplace. In general, the most important aspects of training under the HCS are to ensure that
employees are aware that they are exposed to hazardous chemicals, that they know how to read
and use labels and material safety data sheets, and that, as a consequence of learning this
information, they are following the appropriate protective measures established by the employer.
OSHA compliance officers will be talking to employees to determine if they have received
training, if they know they are exposed to hazardous chemicals, and if they know where to obtain
substance-specific information on labels and MSDSs.
The rule does not require employers to maintain records of employee training, but many
employers choose to do so. This may help you monitor your own program to ensure that all
employees are appropriately trained. If you already have a training program, you may simply
have to supplement it with whatever additional information is required under the HCS. For
example, construction employers that are already in compliance with the construction training
standard (29 CFR 1926.21) will have little extra training to do.
An employer can provide employees information and training through whatever means are found
appropriate and protective. Although there would always have to be some training on-site (such
as informing employees of the location and availability of the written program and MSDSs),
employee training may be satisfied in part by general training about the requirements of the HCS
and about chemical hazards on the job which is provided by, for example, trade associations,
unions, colleges, and professional schools. In addition, previous training, education and
experience of a worker may relieve the employer of some of the burdens of informing and training
that worker. Regardless of the method relied upon, however, the employer is always ultimately
responsible for ensuring that employees are adequately trained. If the compliance officer finds
that the training is deficient, the employer will be cited for the deficiency regardless of who
actually provided the training on behalf of the employer.
D. Other Requirements
In addition to these specific items, compliance officers will also be asking the following questions
in assessing the adequacy of the program:
Does a list of the hazardous chemicals exist in each work area or at a central location?
Are methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks
outlined?

Are employees informed of the hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes
in their work areas?
On multi-employer worksites, has the employer provided other employers with information about
labeling systems and precautionary measures where the other employers have employees
exposed to the initial employer's chemicals?
Is the written program made available to employees and their designated representatives?
If your program adequately addresses the means of communicating information to employees in
your workplace, and provides answers to the basic questions outlined above, it will be found to be
in compliance with the rule.
5. Checklist for Compliance
The following checklist will help to ensure you are in compliance with the rule:
Obtained a copy of the rule. ____
Read and understood the requirements. ____
Assigned responsibility for tasks. ____
Prepared an inventory of chemicals. ____
Ensured containers are labeled. ____
Obtained MSDS for each chemical. ____
Prepared written program. ____
Made MSDSs available to workers. ____
Conducted training of workers. ____
Established procedures to maintain current program. ____
Established procedures to evaluate effectiveness. ____
6. Further Assistance
If you have a question regarding compliance with the HCS, you should contact your local OSHA
Area Office for assistance. In addition, each OSHA Regional Office has a Hazard Communication
Coordinator who can answer your questions. Free consultation services are also available to
assist employers, and information regarding these services can be obtained through the Area and
Regional offices as well.
The telephone number for the OSHA office closest to you should be listed in your local telephone
directory. If you are not able to obtain this information, you may contact OSHA's Office of
Information and Consumer Affairs at (202) 219–8151 for further assistance in identifying the
appropriate contacts.

[59 FR 6170, Feb. 9, 1994, as amended at 59 FR 17479, Apr. 13, 1994; 59 FR 65948, Dec. 22, 1994; 61 FR
9245, Mar. 7. 1996]
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