Compliance

right to know station

osha right to knowright to know station, right to know binder

What Is an OSHA “Right to Know Station”?

An OSHA right to know station is a designated, easily accessible area in the workplace where employees can quickly find hazard communication information about the chemicals they may encounter. The term “right to know” is commonly used to describe employee access to chemical hazard information required by OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS, 29 CFR 1910.1200).

In practical terms, a right to know station often includes:

  • Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  • The written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program
  • Chemical inventory lists (often site-specific)
  • Workplace labeling information and instructions
  • Emergency contact and response information

While OSHA doesn’t explicitly require a specific “station,” it does require that employees have ready access to SDSs and be trained on chemical hazards. Many employers use a station (or multiple stations) to meet these access expectations across departments, shifts, and job sites.

Key OSHA requirement: Employees must be able to obtain SDS information during their work shift without barriers (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8)).

Right to Know Station vs. Right to Know Binder

A right to know binder is the classic approach: a physical binder containing SDSs and related HazCom documents, typically stored in a known location such as a break room, maintenance shop, supervisor’s office, or near chemical storage.

A right to know station may include a binder, but it can also be a broader setup that includes:

  • A binder plus wall-mounted instructions and emergency numbers
  • A kiosk or computer for digital SDS access
  • QR codes posted near chemical storage areas linking to SDS records
  • Site maps or inventory lists showing where chemicals are used

The binder method can be effective, but it has limitations—especially for multi-site operations, frequent chemical changes, or workplaces with mobile crews.

Where binders commonly fall short

  • Outdated SDSs when new products are introduced or vendors update documents
  • Missing SDSs for chemicals brought in by contractors, maintenance, or temporary projects
  • Single-point access that’s inconvenient for large facilities or multiple shifts
  • Wear and tear (lost pages, water damage, binder not returned)

A modern right to know station aims to provide the same information with fewer access issues, while still aligning with OSHA’s access requirements.

OSHA Requirements That Drive “Right to Know” Access

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) establishes what employees must be able to access and understand. Your right to know station is a practical tool to support these requirements.

SDS availability (29 CFR 1910.1200(g))

OSHA requires that:

  • Employers maintain an SDS for each hazardous chemical in the workplace
  • SDSs are readily accessible to employees when they are in their work areas during each shift
  • Employees can access SDSs without obstacles (for example, not locked in an office that’s closed at night)

Written HazCom program (29 CFR 1910.1200(e))

If your workplace uses hazardous chemicals, you must have a written hazard communication program, including:

  • How labeling will be managed
  • How SDSs will be maintained and made accessible
  • How employee training will be conducted
  • A list of hazardous chemicals known to be present

Many employers place a copy of the written program at the right to know station for quick reference.

Training requirements (29 CFR 1910.1200(h))

Employees must be trained on:

  • The hazards of chemicals in their work area
  • How to read labels and SDSs (including GHS pictograms)
  • Protective measures (PPE, safe handling, emergency response)
  • Details of the employer’s HazCom program and where SDSs are located

A right to know station supports training by giving workers a consistent, familiar place (or method) to find information.

What to Include in a Right to Know Station (Best Practice Checklist)

A good right to know station is designed around speed, clarity, and access. Use this checklist to build one that supports OSHA requirements and real-world emergencies.

Core documents and resources

  • SDS access for every hazardous chemical (binder, digital access, or both)
  • Written HazCom program (current version)
  • Chemical inventory list by department, building, or jobsite
  • Labeling guidance, including secondary container labeling rules
  • Emergency procedures, including spill response and first aid references
  • Emergency contact list (internal and external)

Station design and placement

  • Place stations near where chemicals are used or stored, not just in an office
  • Ensure access for all shifts and all employees (including temporary and contract workers where applicable)
  • Clearly mark the location with consistent signage (e.g., “Right to Know Station / SDS Access Here”)
  • Keep instructions simple: “How to find an SDS in under 60 seconds”

Keeping it current

  • Assign an owner (role-based, not person-based) responsible for updates
  • Document a routine review cadence (monthly/quarterly) and after chemical changes
  • Verify SDS versions and suppliers during purchasing/receiving

In an inspection, it’s not enough to say “we have SDSs.” OSHA will focus on whether employees can actually access them quickly and whether your HazCom program is implemented as written.

Digital Right to Know Stations: A Practical Upgrade

OSHA allows SDSs to be maintained electronically as long as there are no barriers to immediate employee access (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8)). That means employers using digital systems should ensure:

  • Employees know how to access SDSs
  • Access works during all shifts
  • There is a contingency plan for outages (for example, offline access, backup device, or printed critical SDSs)

How SwiftSDS supports “right to know” access

SwiftSDS helps employers modernize the right to know station concept with a cloud-based approach that’s designed for Hazard Communication compliance.

  • Centralized SDS Library: Store and organize SDSs in one secure location so employees can find the right document fast.
  • Mobile Access: Workers can access SDS information instantly from any device—useful for warehouses, maintenance teams, and multi-building sites.
  • OSHA & GHS alignment: Support for HCS (29 CFR 1910.1200) and GHS labeling/SDS structure helps keep hazard communication standardized.
  • Chemical Inventory Management: Track chemical locations, quantities, and expiration dates—critical for keeping right to know information accurate at the department level.

Instead of relying on a single right to know binder that may be outdated or hard to access, SwiftSDS enables multiple “digital stations” across your facility—wherever your employees work.

Common Compliance Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

Even well-intentioned programs can fail on the details. These issues frequently come up during audits and inspections:

  • SDSs exist, but employees don’t know where they are. Fix this with clear signage and training refreshers (29 CFR 1910.1200(h)).
  • Binders are missing SDSs for new chemicals. Strengthen the receiving/purchasing process so SDS capture happens at introduction (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)).
  • Access is restricted. If SDSs are behind a locked door or only available through a supervisor, access may not be “readily accessible” (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8)).
  • The written HazCom program doesn’t match actual practice. Update the program and make sure employees follow it (29 CFR 1910.1200(e)).
  • No plan for digital downtime. Create a backup method (e.g., cached SDSs on a kiosk, printed critical SDSs for top hazards).

Building a Right to Know Station Employees Actually Use

A right to know station should be more than a compliance checkbox. The goal is to make hazard information part of everyday operations.

Practical tips

  1. Keep SDS access instructions visible and simple.
  2. Organize SDSs by product name used onsite (and include common synonyms).
  3. Review the chemical inventory by area so employees can find what’s relevant.
  4. Incorporate station use into onboarding and periodic refresher training.
  5. Conduct quick drills: “Find the SDS for X and identify required PPE and first-aid steps.”

If you’re managing multiple departments, frequent chemical changes, or more than one location, a cloud-based platform can significantly reduce the time spent maintaining binders while improving accessibility.

Take the Next Step

A well-designed right to know station—whether built around a right to know binder, a digital kiosk, or mobile access—supports OSHA’s Hazard Communication requirements and helps employees make safer decisions around hazardous chemicals.

Ready to simplify SDS access and strengthen your HazCom program? Explore how SwiftSDS can centralize your SDS library, support GHS-aligned documentation, and provide mobile access so employees can find critical hazard info fast. Get started with SwiftSDS today.