Hazard Communication Standard Corrections Update OSHA’s Chemical Safety Rules

Hazard communication standard corrections are now in effect following a recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notice that fixes regulatory errors in the agency’s Hazard Communication Standard for general industry, 29 CFR 1910.1200. The Hazard Communication Standard, often called OSHA Hazcom, governs how laboratories classify chemical hazards and communicate them through chemical labeling and safety data sheets (SDSs). These requirements underpin chemical safety programs across research, clinical, and industrial labs, where workers rely on accurate hazard information to handle, store, and dispose of chemicals safely.

The corrections address errors that originated in OSHA’s May 20, 2024, Hazcom final rule, which aligned US chemical safety regulations with the seventh revision of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, known as GHS. OSHA first acknowledged the issues in October, stating that the errors “could lead to confusion during the classification process or errors on labels and SDS if not expeditiously corrected.” The recent notice finalizes those fixes, making the hazard communication standard corrections a compliance signal that lab managers cannot ignore.

What OSHA changed in the hazard communication standard corrections

The hazard communication standard corrections do not create new hazard categories or impose new duties. Instead, OSHA corrected regulatory text that did not accurately reflect its intent when it updated OSHA Hazcom in 2024. The agency focused on three technical areas that directly affect laboratory compliance.

Key correction areas include:

Definitions used to classify chemical hazards
Formatting, numbering, and cross-references in Hazcom appendices
Alignment between classification criteria, chemical labeling elements, and SDS requirements

Because chemical classification systems, SDS software, and supplier labels rely on this text, even small errors can produce inconsistencies across laboratory safety documentation.

Why OSHA Hazcom updates matter to laboratory compliance

OSHA Hazcom establishes how chemical hazards must be evaluated and communicated in the workplace. In laboratories, this affects nearly every chemical-related process, from procurement to waste handling. The hazard communication standard corrections matter because they ensure that OSHA’s alignment with GHS operates as intended.

When GHS alignment changes, it determines:

How chemicals are placed into hazard classes and categories
Which hazard statements appear on chemical labeling
Which precautionary statements populate SDSs

If OSHA Hazcom tables or definitions contain errors, classification software and SDS providers may generate conflicting hazard information, which increases regulatory and safety risk inside the lab.

How chemical labeling and SDS systems are affected

Chemical labeling and SDS management systems draw directly from OSHA’s hazard classification rules. The hazard communication standard corrections help resolve mismatches that could otherwise propagate across laboratory safety infrastructure.

In practical terms, labs use these systems to:

Assign hazard pictograms and signal words to containers
Populate SDS hazard, precautionary, and exposure sections
Support regulatory inspections and internal audits

When those systems reference outdated or incorrect Hazcom text, labs may unknowingly maintain labels or SDS that do not match OSHA’s corrected requirements.

What lab managers should review now

Laboratory leaders should treat the hazard communication standard corrections as a trigger for compliance verification rather than as a routine editorial update.

Areas to review include:

Chemical classification software used to apply OSHA Hazcom criteria
Labeling templates for primary and secondary containers
SDS libraries and supplier-provided SDS files
Hazcom training materials used for laboratory staff

These checks help ensure that chemical labeling and SDS documentation reflect the corrected OSHA Hazcom framework rather than the flawed 2024 version.

Why this creates a compliance signal for laboratories

OSHA issued the hazard communication standard corrections because it recognized that technical errors could drive incorrect hazard communication. In laboratory environments, even small classification or labeling mistakes can trigger audit findings, delay inspections, or compromise worker safety.

OSHA Hazcom remains an actively evolving regulatory framework. The recent corrections show that laboratories must track not only major rulemakings but also technical amendments that shape how chemical hazards are defined, labeled, and documented.