Hazard Communication (HazCom) Compliance Guide
OSHA's #2 most-cited standard, and the most-cited general industry standard.
Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) drew 2,546 citations in FY 2025. The failures are consistent: missing or outdated safety data sheets, unlabeled secondary containers, and workers who were never trained on the chemicals they handle.
Shop chemical hazard signage
What gets cited
- No written hazard communication program
- Safety data sheets missing, outdated, or not readily accessible during every work shift
- Secondary containers not labeled with product identifier and words, pictograms, or symbols conveying the hazard
- Shipped containers missing a compliant GHS label
- Employees not trained at initial assignment and when a new hazard is introduced
- Chemical inventory list not maintained
A note on electronic SDS
OSHA permits electronic access to safety data sheets. What it does not permit is electronic access with no backup. If the network is down, the power is out, or the terminal is on the far side of the building from the incident, the sheets are not readily accessible. Have a fallback.
What a citation actually costs
OSHA maximum civil penalties per violation. 2026 amounts are unchanged from 2025, because the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not publish October 2025 CPI data during the federal funding lapse, so no inflation adjustment was applied.
| Violation type |
Minimum |
Maximum |
| Serious |
$1,085 |
$16,550 per violation |
| Repeat |
$4,256 |
$165,514 per violation |
| Willful |
$11,823 |
$165,514 per violation |
| Failure to abate |
n/a |
$16,550 per day beyond the abatement date |
Source: OSHA 2026 Annual Adjustments to Civil Penalties and 29 CFR 1910.1200.
Free compliance checklist
A walkthrough checklist covering written program, SDS access, container labeling, training records, and chemical inventory.
Download the HazCom Compliance Checklist (PDF)
Where signage fits
Labeling is an explicit requirement of this standard, not an optional control. Beyond container labels, area signage marks chemical storage rooms, spill response zones, corrosive and flammable areas, and SDS station locations so people can find what they need under pressure.
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