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Hazard colors and OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard

Hazard colors are one of the fastest ways to communicate risk in a workplace—especially when employees are moving quickly, working across language barriers, or responding to an emergency. Under OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), 29 CFR 1910.1200, employers must ensure that chemical hazards are properly classified and communicated through labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and training. While HazCom does not require a single universal “color code for hazardous material” across all situations, color is heavily embedded in related hazard communication systems (OSHA labeling expectations, GHS pictograms, NFPA 704, ANSI safety colors, and DOT placards).

This article breaks down how hazard colors are used, where they apply, and how to stay compliant without relying on color alone.

What OSHA requires (and what it doesn’t) about hazard colors

OSHA HazCom focuses on effective hazard communication, not mandating one specific color scheme for every workplace label.

OSHA’s baseline: labels, SDS, and training

Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), chemical containers must be labeled with:

  • Product identifier
  • Signal word
  • Hazard statement(s)
  • Precautionary statement(s)
  • Pictogram(s)
  • Supplier identification

Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g), employers must maintain SDSs for each hazardous chemical and ensure they are readily accessible to employees.

Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(h), employers must provide employee training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.

Why color still matters under HazCom

Even though OSHA doesn’t prescribe a single “hazard colors” standard for every label, color is a powerful supporting element that helps:

  • Improve recognition of hazard types
  • Reinforce training and SDS information
  • Reduce response time during spills and exposures

Color can support hazard communication, but it should never be the only method used. OSHA expects hazards to be communicated through compliant labels, SDSs, and training.

GHS hazard communication: pictograms, red borders, and consistent meaning

OSHA aligned HazCom with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which introduces standardized hazard elements including pictograms.

The role of red in GHS labels

GHS pictograms are displayed as a black symbol on a white background with a red diamond border. The red border is not optional for shipped container labels under GHS formatting expectations (unless a competent authority specifies otherwise in limited cases).

Common GHS pictograms include:

  • Flame (flammables, pyrophorics, self-reactives)
  • Skull and crossbones (acute toxicity)
  • Corrosion (skin corrosion/burns, serious eye damage, corrosive to metals)
  • Gas cylinder (gases under pressure)
  • Exclamation mark (irritation, sensitization, narcotic effects)

GHS doesn’t use multiple colors to represent different hazard classes; instead, it relies on standard pictograms + signal words (Danger/Warning) + hazard statements.

NFPA 704 hazard colors (the “fire diamond”)

When people search for a color code for hazardous material, they are often thinking of the NFPA 704 system seen on buildings, tanks, and storage areas. NFPA 704 is not an OSHA regulation by itself, but it is widely adopted and commonly used to supplement HazCom—especially for emergency response.

NFPA 704 color meanings

NFPA 704 uses four color fields:

  • Red (top): Flammability
  • Blue (left): Health hazard
  • Yellow (right): Reactivity/instability
  • White (bottom): Special hazards (e.g., oxidizer, water-reactive)

Each of the red/blue/yellow sections is rated 0–4, with 4 indicating the most severe hazard.

How NFPA and OSHA HazCom work together

  • HazCom labels and SDS communicate hazards for worker protection and safe handling.
  • NFPA 704 supports quick recognition, particularly for firefighters and emergency teams.

If you use NFPA diamonds in your facility, ensure employees understand what the colors and numbers mean as part of HazCom training (1910.1200(h)).

ANSI safety colors: where you’ll see “red means danger” at work

Another common hazard colors framework comes from ANSI/ASSP safety standards (often reflected in facility signage and equipment markings). While ANSI standards are not OSHA law, OSHA frequently expects employers to use recognized consensus standards to support safe communication.

Typical ANSI safety color associations

  • Red: Danger/stop/fire protection equipment (e.g., fire extinguishers)
  • Orange: Warning (often for machine guarding or energized equipment)
  • Yellow: Caution/physical hazards (trip hazards, low clearance)
  • Green: Safety/first aid (eyewash stations, exits)
  • Blue: Notice/mandatory action (PPE required)

The key compliance point: if your workplace uses these colors on signs, pipe markers, or equipment tags, your HazCom program should ensure employees understand the meaning and limitations.

DOT placard colors for hazardous materials in transport

For organizations that ship or receive hazardous materials, DOT placards introduce another “hazard colors” layer. DOT is separate from OSHA, but workplaces often intersect both.

Common DOT placard color examples

  • Red placards: Flammable materials
  • Yellow placards: Oxidizers
  • White placards: Poison/toxic inhalation hazards (varies by class/division)
  • Green placards: Non-flammable gas

If chemicals move between storage and shipping areas, aligning DOT shipping requirements with HazCom labeling and SDS access helps prevent gaps.

Best practices: using hazard colors without creating confusion

A major risk with hazard colors is inconsistency—especially when multiple systems (GHS, NFPA, ANSI, DOT) appear in the same facility. To keep hazard communication clear and OSHA-aligned:

1. Treat color as a supplement, not a substitute

Don’t rely on color alone for identifying hazards (color blindness, lighting conditions, and mixed standards can lead to errors). Always maintain:

  • GHS-compliant shipped container labels (1910.1200(f))
  • Workplace labeling that communicates hazard information effectively
  • Readily accessible SDSs (1910.1200(g))

2. Standardize your internal “color code for hazardous material” approach

If you use a color system for secondary containers, storage zones, or piping, document it and train employees on it. Include:

  • What each color means
  • Where the color system applies (and where it does not)
  • How to verify details using the SDS (Sections 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, and 13 are commonly referenced)

3. Reinforce color cues with text and symbols

Best practice combinations include:

  • Color + GHS pictogram
  • Color + hazard wording (e.g., “Flammable—Keep Away From Ignition Sources”)
  • Color + QR code or link to the SDS library

4. Keep SDS access fast and reliable

OSHA expects SDSs to be readily accessible during each work shift. If SDS binders are missing, outdated, or hard to locate, hazard colors won’t fill that gap.

SwiftSDS supports HazCom programs by centralizing your SDS library in a secure cloud location, enabling mobile access for workers, and helping ensure documents stay organized and available when employees need them most. It also supports GHS classification and labeling workflows and can connect SDS information to chemical inventory management (locations, quantities, and expiration dates) so your site-level hazard communication stays consistent.

Putting it all together in your HazCom program

A strong hazard communication program connects the “quick visual” systems (hazard colors) with the “official hazard information” systems (labels and SDS). Consider this workflow:

  1. Use GHS-aligned labels for shipped containers and consistent workplace labels for secondary containers.
  2. Use NFPA/ANSI/DOT colors where appropriate—without contradicting the GHS message.
  3. Train employees to confirm details in the SDS rather than guessing based on color.
  4. Audit chemical inventory and labeling to ensure current hazards and SDS versions match.

For additional guidance on organizing your program, see HazCom SDS Management.

If employees can’t quickly find the correct SDS, hazard colors become guesswork. The SDS is the authoritative reference for handling, PPE, storage, and emergency response.

Call to action

If your facility uses multiple hazard color systems—or you’re trying to build a consistent hazard communication standard program—make SDS access the foundation. SwiftSDS helps you centralize SDSs, support GHS labeling consistency, and connect hazard information to inventory and locations so workers can verify hazards in seconds. Explore SwiftSDS SDS Management to see how a modern SDS platform can strengthen compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 and reduce chemical safety confusion.