• Labels provide immediate warning and must be on the immediate container of each hazardous chemical.
• Shipped containers of hazardous chemicals must have six different required label elements.

Summary of requirements

The HazCom standard requires that a label must be on the immediate container of each hazardous chemical. The label provides an immediate warning of the hazards and protective information related to the chemical and is a summary of the more detailed information available on the safety data sheet (SDS).

Labels are not intended to be either the sole or the most complete source of information regarding the nature or identity of the hazardous chemicals in the container. The chemical identity on the label must match the chemical’s SDS, which contains more extensive information. The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor is required to:

• Provide labels on shipped containers with all the required label elements for the hazard class(es).
• Update labels within six months of becoming aware of any new hazard information and ensure that labels on containers shipped after that time contain the new information.

Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors have the option to NOT relabel chemicals already released for shipment and awaiting further distribution. With this option, however, they must provide the updated label for each individual container with each shipment.

If the chemical is not currently produced or imported, the chemical manufacturer, importer, distributor, or employer must add the information to the label before the chemical is shipped or introduced into the workplace again.

Employers are required to ensure that:

• Containers of hazardous chemicals in the workplace are labeled.
• Labels remain readable and are not smudged or defaced.
• Labels are at least in English.
• Employees are trained on the labels used in the workplace.

Labels on shipped containers

All shipped containers of hazardous chemicals must be labeled with the required label elements:

• Product identifier;
• Signal word;
• Pictogram(s);
• Hazard statement(s);
• Precautionary statement(s); and
• Name, U.S. address, and U.S. phone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party.

Labeling exemptions

Many government agencies require labeling on items they regulate. Even though the chemicals themselves are covered under HazCom, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not require hazard communication labeling for the following chemicals:

• Any pesticide, labeled under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
• Any chemical substance or mixture labeled under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
• Any food, food additive, color additive, drug, cosmetic, or medical or veterinary device labeled under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act.
• Any alcoholic beverages, wine or beer intended for nonindustrial use, labeled under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.
• Agricultural or vegetable seed treated with pesticides and labeled under the Federal Seed Act.
• Any consumer product or hazardous substance, labeled under the Consumer Product Safety Act.