Does HazCom apply to office environments?

Office workers who encounter hazardous chemicals only in isolated instances are not covered by 29 CFR 1910.1200, the Hazard Communication Standard. OSHA considers most office products such as pens, pencils, adhesive tape, and correction fluid to be exempt under the provisions of the rule, either as articles or as consumer products.

For instance, OSHA has previously stated that intermittent or occasional use of a copying machine does not result in coverage under the rule. However, if an employee is responsible for replacing the toner in all the copiers in the building, or whose only job is to operate and service the copier for eight hours a day, then the Hazard Communication Standard would apply.