Hazard Communication
The Hazard Communication Standard is an Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulation, 29 CFR 1910.1200 (h), which requires all employers to provide information and training to their employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed at the time of their initial assignment, whenever a new chemical hazard that they have not had any previous training with is introduced into their work area or when they are asked to perform nonroutine tasks.
The Hazard Communication Standard requires chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) (formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDSs) to communicate the hazards of hazardous chemical products.
The goal of a Hazard Communication Program (also known as HazCom) is to protect people from injuries and illnesses associated with using hazardous chemicals in the workplace. People have the right-to-know and understand the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to at work. To accomplish this, the program includes the following elements: maintaining a list of hazardous chemicals (a chemical inventory), making SDSs accessible, ensuring that chemical containers are properly labeled, and providing the information, training, work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to protect employees.
CDC and NIOSH Bulletin, Contact Lens Use In A Chemical Environment
LUC Hazard Communication Standard-Interpretation of Safety Data Sheet
OSHA Brief - Hazard Communication Labels and Pictograms
OSHA Brief - Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets
OSHA Fact Sheet_Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule_06-24
