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Standards & Metrics

Hazard Communication (HazCom)

The OSHA standard requiring employers to inform workers about chemical hazards in the workplace through labels, safety data sheets, and training.

What It Means

The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), also known as HazCom or the "Right-to-Know" standard, requires employers to inform and train workers about the chemical hazards they may be exposed to in the workplace. The standard was updated in 2012 to align with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Under HazCom, employers must maintain a written hazard communication program, keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every hazardous chemical in the workplace and make them readily accessible to employees, ensure all containers are properly labeled with GHS-compliant labels showing the product identifier, signal word, hazard statements, pictograms, and precautionary statements, and provide initial and ongoing training to workers who may be exposed to chemical hazards. Hazard Communication is consistently among OSHA's top five most-cited standards across all industries. Violations commonly include failure to maintain an updated chemical inventory, missing or incomplete safety data sheets, unlabeled secondary containers, and inadequate employee training.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Hazard Communication" mean in OSHA context?

The OSHA standard requiring employers to inform workers about chemical hazards in the workplace through labels, safety data sheets, and training.

Why does Hazard Communication matter for workplace safety?

The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), also known as HazCom or the "Right-to-Know" standard, requires employers to inform and train workers about the chemical hazards they may be exposed to in the workplace. The standard was updated in 2012 to align with the Globally Harmonized System...

Related Terms

Serious Violation
A violation where a workplace hazard could cause death or serious physical harm and the employer knew or should have known about it.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
The federal agency responsible for enforcing workplace safety and health standards across the United States.
Citation
A formal written notice issued by OSHA to an employer describing the specific violation, the standard violated, the proposed penalty, and the deadline for correction.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Equipment worn by workers to minimize exposure to workplace hazards, including hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, respirators, and fall protection harnesses.

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About This Data

Definitions based on OSHA standards, the OSH Act of 1970, and federal enforcement guidance. Penalty amounts reflect 2026 inflation-adjusted maximums. See our methodology.