The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a part of the US Department of Labor. It was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. OSHA's mission is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers in the United States by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.

The Hazard Communication Standard is a set of rules established by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure chemical safety in the workplace. The Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to communicate with their employees about any hazardous substances present and to make information about those hazards readily available. When hazardous chemicals are present in the workplace, employees have a right to information about which hazards are present, the dangers that the given hazards pose, and the steps to take when an exposure to the hazards occurs.

According to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, all employers who have hazardous chemical in the workplace must comply with the Hazard Communication Standard. As part of their compliance, employers must have labels and safety data sheets for all workers who will be exposed to hazardous chemicals and must train those workers on proper handling of the chemicals.

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, which aligns with the Globally Harmonized System to ensure the safe handling of hazardous chemicals in the workplace, requires the following:

After it was determined that the Hazard Communication Standard should align with the Globally Harmonized System, OSHA updated its inspection procedures for businesses that involve hazardous chemicals. In 2024, OSHA also updated the amount of money that each violation of the Hazard Communication Standard could cost the business found to be in violation of the standard.

Many countries have workplace rules similar to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. But, because individual countries had their own ideas about how to classify and label hazardous chemicals, the differences in such rules created inconsistencies and confusion within the international community.

There are many different kinds of workplace hazards. Whether a type of hazard is present in a particular workplace depends on the kind of work that organization does. Workplaces can involve: • Biological hazards, such as viruses, molds, and diseases from wildlife. • Chemical hazards, such as gases, lead, flammable liquids, and toxic materials. • Ergonomic hazards, such as repetitive manual labor and long work shifts. • Organizational hazards, such as harassment, bullying, and stress. • Physical hazards, such as noise, radiation, and extreme temperatures. • Safety hazards, such as complex machinery, working from great heights, and working in small spaces.

Safety Data Sheets are documents providing important information about hazardous chemicals. Each hazardous chemical has its own individual Safety Data Sheet. The chemical’s manufacturer or importer is responsible for acquiring or developing the Safety Data Sheet, and the distributor is responsible for ensuring customers receive it. Once the chemical arrives at the business that will use it, the employer is responsible for ensuring Safety Data Sheets are available to all employees who might be exposed to hazardous chemicals as part of their job.

Pictograms are used in the Globally Harmonized System to classify hazardous chemicals. These pictograms play a crucial role in communicating the potential hazards associated with different chemicals, ensuring safety and awareness in various contexts.

All hazardous chemicals can be grouped into nine broad categories: • Explosives. • Gases. • Flammable and combustible liquids. • Flammable solids. • Oxidizers and organic peroxide. • Toxic substances and poison inhalation hazards. • Radioactive chemicals. • corrosive chemicals • other dangerous chemicals