Hazard communication standard, general industry

Regulation 29 CFR 1910.1200

Enforcement from October 2019 through September 2020
Total citations: 2,242
Total inspections: 1,268
Total proposed penalties: $2,774,675
Most Frequently Violated OSHA Standard Ranking –Number 2

Industries most penalized for the hazardcommunication standard:
Specialty Trade Contractors ($398,260)
Fabricated Metal Product Mfg. ($257,768)
Repair and Maintenance ($154,238)
Chemical Mfg. ($119,862)
Transportation Equipment Mfg. ($96,267)
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods ($92,197)
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Mfg. ($78,635)
Administrative and Support Services ($68,301)
Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers ($66,980)
Wood Product Mfg. ($58,338)

Key provisions:
To ensure chemical safetyin the workplace, information about the identities and hazards of the chemicalsmust be available and understandable to workers. OSHA's Hazard CommunicationStandard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information:
• Chemical manufacturers andimporters are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce orimport, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazardinformation to their downstream customers;
• All employers with hazardouschemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for theirexposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately.
• Hazard classification: Provides specific criteria for classificationof health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.
• Labels: Chemical manufacturers andimporters are required to provide a label that includes a harmonized signalword, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category.Precautionary statements must also be provided.
• Safety Data Sheets: Have a specified 16-sectionformat.
• Information and training: Employers are required totrain workers on the label elements and safety data sheets format to facilitaterecognition and understanding.
An evaluationof chemical hazards must be performed considering the available scientificevidence concerning such hazards. The hazard determination provisions havedefinitions of hazard and the evaluator determines whether or not the data on achemical meet those definitions. It is a performance-oriented approach thatprovides parameters for the evaluation, but not specific, detailed criteria.
The hazardclassification approach has specific criteria for each health and physicalhazard, along with detailed instructions for hazard evaluation anddeterminations as to whether mixtures or substances are covered. It alsoestablishes both hazard classes and hazard categories—for most of the effects;the classes are divided into categories that reflect the relative severity ofthe effect. Additional health hazard information can be related to theappropriate response to address the hazard.
OSHA includesthe general provisions for hazard classification in paragraph (d) of the hazcomrule, and added extensive appendixes (Appendixes A and B) that address thecriteria for each health or physical effect.