1910.1200(g)(10): How Safety Data Sheets May Be Kept
Employers may keep safety data sheets in any form, including as operating procedures, and may group them to cover the hazards of a process. In every case, the required information must be provided for each hazardous chemical and be readily accessible during each work shift to employees in their work areas.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1200(g)(10) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 18 times in the last 3 years, in 18 inspections, with $6,082 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NY (7), GA (4), TX (2).
- Related part: 1910.1200(g) Safety data sheets (4,329 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(10) is one requirement inside 1910.1200 Hazard communication, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). 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
(10) Safety data sheets may be kept in any form, including as operating procedures, and may be stored in such a way to cover groups of hazardous chemicals in a work area where it may be more appropriate to address the hazards of a process rather than individual hazardous chemicals. However, the employer shall ensure that in all cases the required information is provided for each hazardous chemical, and is readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s). 18 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1200.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1200(g)(10).
At 7:30 a.m. on December 17, 2023, an employee worming as an associate for a supermarket was walking down an aisle. Store personnel routinely take cleaning products from the display areas in the store to use for either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces. The employee took…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Top states: NY (7), GA (4), TX (2), DE (1), ME (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FRESENIUS MEDICAL CENTER | WILMINGTON, DE | $2,678 |
| AQUACORE RENTAL COMPANY, LLC | ODESSA, TX | $2,383 |
| HOGAN & STOREY WOOD PRODUCTS, INC. | ARMUCHEE, GA | $1,021 |
| NEW SPARKLING DIAMOND, LLC | BEAUMONT, TX | $0 |
| BELLMORE FIRE DISTRICT | BELLMORE, NY | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1200(g)(10), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1200(g) Safety data sheets 4,329 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(8) 2,478 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(1) 1,780 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(11) 22 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(2) 16 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(9) 6 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(5) 4 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(7) 3 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(2)(ii) 2 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(6) 2 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(2)(i) 1 citations
- 1910.1200(g)(2)(iii) 1 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Do safety data sheets have to be paper copies?
No. They may be kept in any form, including as operating procedures.
Can SDSs cover a group of chemicals?
Yes, they may be stored to cover groups of chemicals in a work area, but the required information must still be provided for each hazardous chemical.
When must SDSs be available?
They must be readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work areas.
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.