OSHA Hazard Communication (HazCom) Compliance: An Employer's Guide
What employers must do to comply with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard as it aligns to GHS Revision 7 — written program, labels, SDSs, and training.
- Standard
- 29 CFR 1910.1200
- Aligns to
- GHS Revision 7 (2024 final rule)
- Training timing
- Before assignment & when new hazards appear
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to identify hazardous chemicals in the workplace and inform and train workers about them. In 2024, OSHA finalized a rule aligning HazCom with the seventh revision of the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS Revision 7), updating requirements for labels, safety data sheets (SDSs), and training.
Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors face earlier compliance dates; employers must update workplace labeling, their written hazard communication program, and worker training by the later 2026 compliance date in the final rule.
Regardless of the revision cycle, the core duties stay constant: a written HazCom program, a current chemical inventory, accessible SDSs for every hazardous chemical, properly labeled containers, and training delivered before exposure.
OSHA compliance checklist
- Maintain a written HazCom program — Keep a current written program describing how you handle labeling, SDS access, and training.
- Update your chemical inventory and SDS library — Ensure an SDS is on file and readily accessible for every hazardous chemical in use.
- Refresh labels to GHS Revision 7 — Update workplace and secondary-container labels with current pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements.
- Retrain employees — Train workers on the updated label elements and SDS format before the compliance deadline.
- Document everything — Keep dated training records and your written program ready to produce during an inspection.
A starting point, not legal advice — verify against the primary sources cited below and current rules for your jurisdiction.
Key deadlines
- OSHA HazCom 2024 labels, programs & training deadline
Update workplace labels, written programs, and employee training under GHS Revision 7.
Latest OSHA coverage
- OSHA's HazCom 2024 Deadline Has Arrived: What Employers Must Do Before November 2026
- OSHA's HazCom Deadline Is Here: What Chemical Manufacturers and Employers Must Do by May 19, 2026
- OSHA's HazCom Deadline Hits May 19: How Compliance Technology Can Close the Gap
- OSHA's Updated Hazard Communication Standard: The May 19 Deadline Is Here — What Employers Need to Know
- OSHA's Updated Hazard Communication Standard: What Employers Must Do Before the November 2026 Deadline
- The May 19 HazCom Deadline Is Days Away: How Compliance Technology Can Help Employers Catch Up
- OSHA HazCom Compliance Deadline: What Employers Need to Know Before May 19, 2026
- OSHA's May 19 HazCom Deadline Is Days Away: What Employers Need to Know About the Updated Chemical Safety Standard
- OSHA HazCom Deadline Arrives May 19: What Employers Must Do Before GHS Revision 7 Takes Effect
- OSHA's HazCom 2024 Deadline Is Less Than a Month Away: What Employers Must Do by May 19, 2026
- OSHA's Updated HazCom Standard Hits Its First Major Deadline in Weeks — Is Your Compliance Tech Ready?
- OSHA Extended the HazCom Deadline to November 2026: Why Compliance Technology Is the Only Way to Keep Up
- Q1 2026 OSHA Regulatory Updates: What Employers Need to Act On Now
Frequently Asked Questions
Employers must update workplace labels, written hazard communication programs, and employee training for substances by November 20, 2026. For mixtures, the employer deadline is May 19, 2028. These deadlines were extended by four months from the original schedule in January 2026.
The HazCom 2024 final rule aligns OSHA's standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) with GHS Revision 7, introducing new hazard classes like desensitized explosives and chemicals under pressure, updated SDS requirements for Sections 9 and 11, new small-container labeling options, and revised trade secret concentration range disclosures.
During the transition period, compliance with either the 2012 or 2024 HazCom standard is permitted. However, after the applicable compliance deadlines pass, only the 2024 standard will be accepted. For substances, employers must fully transition by November 20, 2026.
In 2026, OSHA can assess penalties up to $16,550 per serious violation and $165,514 per willful or repeat violation. Hazard Communication has been the second most-cited OSHA standard for over a decade, making it a high-priority enforcement target.
Employers should audit their chemical inventory for updated SDSs from suppliers, update workplace container labels to match the new format, revise their written hazard communication program, and schedule employee training on the revised hazard classifications, label elements, and SDS format changes before November 20, 2026.
By May 19, 2026, chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors must evaluate and reclassify all hazardous substances under the updated Hazard Communication Standard aligned with GHS Revision 7, and update their Safety Data Sheets and labels accordingly.
The 2024 final rule aligns OSHA's HazCom standard with GHS Revision 7, introducing new hazard classes like desensitized explosives and chemicals under pressure, revised SDS section requirements, updated labeling rules for small containers, and new criteria for classifying aerosols and flammable gases.
Employers must update workplace labels, written hazard communication programs, and employee training for substances by November 20, 2026. For mixtures, the employer deadline is May 19, 2028.