1910.1200(f): HazCom labels and other forms of warning
Chemical manufacturers, importers and distributors must label every container of hazardous chemicals they ship with the product identifier, a signal word, hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, and the name, U.S. address and phone number of the responsible party, in English and prominently displayed. In the workplace, employers must make sure each container of hazardous chemicals is labeled either with the shipped-container information or with the product identifier plus words, pictures or symbols that give general hazard information, with limited exceptions such as portable containers for an employee's own immediate use.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1200(f) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 2,653 times in the last 3 years, in 2,611 inspections, with $3,378,557 in current penalties.
- 8 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (413), VA (153), MI (145).
- Related part: 1910.1200(f)(6) (2,464 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1200(f) ("Labels and other forms of warning") is one requirement inside 1910.1200 Hazard communication, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 39 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(f) Labels and other forms of warning — 2,653 citations
(1) Labels on shipped containers. The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals leaving the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked. Hazards not otherwise classified and hazards identified and classified under (d)(1)(ii) do not have to be addressed on the container. Where the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor is required to label, tag or mark the following shall be provided: Open (f)(1) 13 citations
(i) Product identifier; Open (f)(1)(i)
(ii) Signal word; Open (f)(1)(ii) 1 citations
(iii) Hazard statement(s); Open (f)(1)(iii) 1 citations
(iv) Pictogram(s); Open (f)(1)(iv) 2 citations
(v) Precautionary statement(s); Open (f)(1)(v)
(vi) Name, U.S. address, and U.S. telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party. Open (f)(1)(vi) 2 citations
(2) The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor shall ensure that the information provided under paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (v) of this section is in accordance with Appendix C to § 1910.1200, for each hazard class and associated hazard category for the hazardous chemical, prominently displayed, and in English (other languages may also be included if appropriate). Open (f)(2) 1 citations
(3) The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor shall ensure that the information provided under paragraphs (f)(1)(ii) through (iv) of this section is located together on the label, tag, or mark. Open (f)(3) 1 citations
(4) Solid materials. Open (f)(4)
(i) For solid metal (such as a steel beam or a metal casting), solid wood, or plastic items that are not exempted as articles due to their downstream use, or shipments of whole grain, the required label may be transmitted to the customer at the time of the initial shipment, and need not be included with subsequent shipments to the same employer unless the information on the label changes;
(ii) The label may be transmitted with the initial shipment itself, or with the safety data sheet that is to be provided prior to or at the time of the first shipment; and,
(iii) This exception to requiring labels on every container of hazardous chemicals is only for the solid material itself, and does not apply to hazardous chemicals used in conjunction with, or known to be present with, the material and to which employees handling the items in transit may be exposed (for example, cutting fluids or pesticides in grains).
(5) Transportation. Open (f)(5) 12 citations
(i) Chemical manufacturers, importers, or distributors shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals leaving the workplace is labeled, tagged, or marked in accordance with this section in a manner which does not conflict with the requirements of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) and regulations issued under that Act by the Department of Transportation (49 CFR subtitle B). Open (f)(5)(i) 1 citations
(ii) The label for bulk shipments of hazardous chemicals must be on the immediate container, transmitted with the shipping papers or the bills of lading, or, with the agreement of the receiving entity, transmitted by technological or electronic means so that it is immediately available to workers in printed form on the receiving end of shipment. Open (f)(5)(ii) 1 citations
(iii) Where a pictogram required by the Department of Transportation under title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations appears on a shipped container, the pictogram specified in appendix C.4 to this section for the same hazard is not required on the label.
(6) Workplace labeling. Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(7) and (f)(8) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with either: Open (f)(6) 2,464 citations
(i) The information specified under paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (v) of this section for labels on shipped containers; or, Open (f)(6)(i) 196 citations
(ii) Product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals, and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, will provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical. Open (f)(6)(ii) 1,516 citations
(7) The employer may use signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other such written materials in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers, as long as the alternative method identifies the containers to which it is applicable and conveys the information required by paragraph (f)(6) of this section to be on a label. The employer shall ensure the written materials are readily accessible to the employees in their work area throughout each work shift. Open (f)(7) 25 citations
(8) The employer is not required to label portable containers into which hazardous chemicals are transferred from labeled containers, and which are intended only for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer. For purposes of this section, drugs which are dispensed by a pharmacy to a health care provider for direct administration to a patient are exempted from labeling. Open (f)(8) 18 citations
(9) The employer shall not remove or deface existing labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals, unless the container is immediately marked with the required information. Open (f)(9) 6 citations
(10) The employer shall ensure that workplace labels or other forms of warning are legible, in English, and prominently displayed on the container, or readily available in the work area throughout each work shift. Employers having employees who speak other languages may add the information in their language to the material presented, as long as the information is presented in English as well. Open (f)(10) 112 citations
(11) Label updates. Open (f)(11) 1 citations
(i) Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, or employers who become newly aware of any significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical shall revise the labels for the chemical within six months of becoming aware of the new information and shall ensure that labels on containers of hazardous chemicals shipped after that time contain the new information. For chemicals that have been released for shipment and are awaiting future distribution, chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, or employers have the option not to relabel those containers; however, if they do not relabel the containers, they must provide the updated label for each individual container with each shipment.
(ii) If the chemical is not currently produced or imported, the chemical manufacturer, importer, distributor, or employer shall add the information to the label before the chemical is shipped or introduced into the workplace again.
(12) Small container labelling.
(i) This paragraph applies where the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor can demonstrate that it is not feasible to use pull-out labels, fold-back labels, or tags containing the full label information required by paragraph (f)(1) of this section.
(ii) For a container less than or equal to 100 ml capacity, the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor must include, at a minimum, the following information on the label of the container:
(A) Product identifier;
(B) Pictogram(s);
(C) Signal word;
(D) Chemical manufacturer's name and phone number; and
(E) A statement that the full label information for the hazardous chemical is provided on the immediate outer package.
(iii) For a container less than or equal to 3 ml capacity, where the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor can demonstrate that any label interferes with the normal use of the container, no label is required, but the container must bear, at a minimum, the product identifier.
(iv) For all small containers covered by paragraph (f)(12)(ii) or (iii) of this section, the immediate outer package must include:
(A) The full label information required by paragraph (f)(1) of this section for each hazardous chemical in the immediate outer package. The label must not be removed or defaced, as required by paragraph (f)(9) of this section.
(B) A statement that the small container(s) inside must be stored in the immediate outer package bearing the complete label when not in use.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1200.
Injuries linked to this rule
8 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1200(f).
At 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 2024, an employee working as a mechanic/welder foran automotive shop was using a a plasma cutter to cut the top off a 55-gallon metal drum. The employee was unaware the drum contained flammable liquids. The instant the plasma cutter…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 202 |
| 2024 | 963 |
| 2025 | 900 |
| 2026 | 588 |
Top states: TN (413), VA (153), MI (145), OR (144), NC (137)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DAEHAN SOLUTION NEVADA, LLC. | FERNLEY, NV | $1,369,056 |
| SV LABS PRESCOTT CORPORATION | PRESCOTT, WI | $85,122 |
| NEXTRISE USA INC. | SEALY, TX | $21,000 |
| MODWASH, LLC | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $16,550 |
| NEW HORIZONS BAKING COMPANY | COLUMBUS, OH | $16,550 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1200(f), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- HCS applicability to an industrial marker containing liquid paint or ink (2023-11-21)
- Transmitting bulk shipment labels by technological or other means (2022-11-09)
- Single HCS Compliant Shipping Label that includes DOT and/or State Requirements (2021-10-04)
- HCS compliant labeling of outer and inner packaging (2021-03-31)
- HCS Labeling Requirements for Bulk Shipments of Small Packages (2019-07-25)
- HCS Labeling requirements regarding intra-plant and intercompany shipping (2018-12-03)
- Hazard Communication Standard – SDS responsible party and hazards not otherwise classified (2018-09-18)
- HCS pictogram labeling of DOT-39 Non-Refillable Cylinders (2018-06-12)
- Listing and disclosing Benzene as a human carcinogen on the label and SDS (2017-07-24)
- Labeling of Secondary Containers (2017-06-20)
- Separate SDSs and labels for dual components (2017-05-09)
- Labeling outer containers of chemical cleaning products while in storage. (2017-05-05)
- Safety Data Sheets for grinding wheels and abrasives (2017-03-23)
- Labeling small containers (2017-03-23)
- Hazard Communication Standard's (HCS 2012) June 1, 2016 effective date, 1910.1200(j) (2017-03-23)
- HCS 2012 labeling of refrigerant containers (2016-08-22)
- Labeling refrigerant cylinders (2016-08-03)
- Container labeling requirements for importer under HCS 2012 (2016-07-20)
- Requirements for labeling of products shipped for export to domestic and international destinations, under the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012) (2016-06-10)
- Safety data sheets for custom blend fertilizers (2016-02-25)
- Labeling requirements for absorbent clay products in various packaging configurations (2015-12-14)
- Requirements for labeling of products shipped for export only to non-U.S. destinations, under the revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012) (2015-11-23)
- Container labeling of non-pesticide agrichemical products packaged for shipment (2015-09-11)
- HCS labeling of imports and exports (2015-09-10)
- Labeling of small containers in the laboratory (2015-09-03)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1200(f)(6) 2,464 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii) 1,516 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(6)(i) 196 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(10) 112 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(7) 25 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(8) 18 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(1) Labels on shipped containers 13 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(5) Transportation 12 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(9) 6 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(1)(iv) 2 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(1)(vi) 2 citations
- 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must a shipped chemical label include?
Product identifier, signal word, hazard statement(s), pictogram(s), precautionary statement(s), and the name, U.S. address and U.S. phone number of the manufacturer, importer or other responsible party.
Do secondary containers in the workplace need labels?
Yes, with either the full shipped-container label information or the product identifier plus words, pictures or symbols giving general hazard information. A portable container meant only for the immediate use of the employee who filled it is an exception.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1200 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.
