1910.1200(h)(1): When HazCom training is required
Employers must give employees effective information and training on the hazardous chemicals in their work area when they are first assigned, and again whenever a new chemical hazard they have not been trained on is brought into their work area. Training can be organized by hazard category or by specific chemical, but chemical-specific information must always be available on labels and safety data sheets.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1200(h)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 5,521 times in the last 3 years, in 5,521 inspections, with $4,260,563 in current penalties.
- 47 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MD (670), TN (451), MN (403).
- Related part: 1910.1200(h) Employee information and training (6,641 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1) 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
(1) Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets. 5,521 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1200.
Injuries linked to this rule
47 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1200(h)(1).
An employee was fabricating a part for an agricultural wagon using a drill presswhen it fell onto his head, causing multiple fatal injuries to the employee.
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 | 370 |
| 2024 | 2,023 |
| 2025 | 1,868 |
| 2026 | 1,260 |
Top states: MD (670), TN (451), MN (403), IL (333), NY (281)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DOLLAR TREE, INC. | MALTA, NY | $113,484 |
| KENRIC STEEL, LLC | MILLVILLE, NJ | $82,964 |
| TRADER JOE'S EAST, INC. | FREEHOLD, NJ | $80,668 |
| GHM GIRI HOTEL MANAGEMENT | FREEPORT, ME | $33,480 |
| JBS USA SANITATION CORPORATION | GREELEY, CO | $24,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1200(h)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Applicability of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard for truck drivers hauling waste products that are exempt by EPA (2014-12-23)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1200(h) Employee information and training 6,641 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(3) Training 815 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(2) Information 272 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv) 195 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii) 173 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(2)(iii) 157 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii) 143 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(3)(i) 61 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(2)(ii) 35 citations
- 1910.1200(h)(2)(i) 21 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 new hires need HazCom training before they start?
Training must be given at the time of initial assignment to a work area with hazardous chemicals.
Do we retrain when a new chemical arrives?
Yes, when it brings a chemical hazard employees have not been trained about.
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.