1910.1450(e)(1): Written Chemical Hygiene Plan
Where hazardous chemicals are used in a laboratory, the employer must develop and carry out a written Chemical Hygiene Plan. The plan must be capable of protecting employees from the health hazards of those chemicals and of keeping exposures below the limits in paragraph (c).
Key takeaways
- 1910.1450(e)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 39 times in the last 3 years, in 39 inspections, with $72,134 in current penalties.
- Most citations: CT (9), CO (5), MI (3).
- Related part: 1910.1450(e) Chemical hygiene plan—General (103 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1450(e)(1) is one requirement inside 1910.1450 Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 2 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
(1) Where hazardous chemicals as defined by this standard are used in the workplace, the employer shall develop and carry out the provisions of a written Chemical Hygiene Plan which is: 39 citations
(i) Capable of protecting employees from health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals in that laboratory and 2 citations
(ii) Capable of keeping exposures below the limits specified in paragraph (c) of this section.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1450.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Top states: CT (9), CO (5), MI (3), TX (2), TN (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ALPHA OMEGA COLLECTIS, LLC | AURORA, CO | $6,620 |
| ALPHA OMEGA COLLECTIS, LLC | AURORA, CO | $6,453 |
| SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, INC. | ATLANTA, GA | $6,452 |
| MIXLAB, INC. | NEW YORK, NY | $6,384 |
| HAUSE LABS LLC | DENVER, CO | $6,333 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1450(e)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1450(e)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1450(e) Chemical hygiene plan—General 103 citations
- 1910.1450(e)(3) 38 citations
- 1910.1450(e)(4) 23 citations
- 1910.1450(e)(3)(iii) 15 citations
- 1910.1450(e)(3)(vii) 3 citations
- 1910.1450(e)(2) 3 citations
- 1910.1450(e)(3)(viii)
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
When is a Chemical Hygiene Plan required?
Where hazardous chemicals as defined by 1910.1450 are used in the laboratory workplace.
Is having the plan on paper enough?
No. The employer must develop and carry out the plan's provisions.
What must the plan be able to do?
Protect employees from health hazards of the lab's hazardous chemicals and keep exposures below the limits in paragraph (c).
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1450 (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.