Understanding OSHA “Right to Know”
In many workplaces, employees handle or work near hazardous chemicals every day—cleaners, solvents, paints, fuels, disinfectants, reagents, and more. OSHA’s “Right to Know” concept is the legal and practical framework that ensures workers have access to information about those hazards so they can protect themselves.
The phrase the right to know standard is commonly used to describe OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), found at 29 CFR 1910.1200. In other words, the right to know standard is also known as the Hazard Communication Standard—often shortened to “HazCom.” Many people also refer to it as hazcom right to know because it focuses on communicating chemical hazards through labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), and training.
Workers have a right to know what hazardous chemicals are present, what the risks are, and how to work safely with them—before an exposure happens.
What the “Right to Know Standard” Requires Under OSHA
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard applies to employers with hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The goal is simple: chemical hazards must be classified and communicated. While details vary by workplace, OSHA generally expects a complete hazard communication program that includes SDS access, labeling, and employee training.
The hazard communication standard is also known as “HazCom”
You’ll commonly hear that the hazard communication standard is also known as “HazCom.” This is the regulation that drives most “right to know” policies you see on shop floors, in labs, warehouses, schools, hospitals, and manufacturing environments.
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200, employers must (among other requirements):
- Maintain a written Hazard Communication Program
- Keep an SDS for each hazardous chemical and ensure employees can access SDSs when needed
- Ensure containers are properly labeled (including shipped labels and workplace labels)
- Provide effective employee information and training
- Maintain a chemical inventory and identify where hazardous chemicals are used and stored
GHS alignment: labels and SDS format
OSHA updated HazCom to align with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). That means workers should see:
- Standardized pictograms and hazard statements on labels
- A consistent 16-section SDS format, making it easier to find first aid measures, PPE guidance, exposure controls, and spill response details
This standardization is a major part of why right-to-know programs work: information becomes consistent across suppliers and products.
HazCom Right to Know: The Three Pillars
A strong hazcom right to know program typically stands on three core elements: SDSs, labels, and training.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS): access is non-negotiable
OSHA requires that SDSs are readily accessible to employees during their work shift (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)). The SDS is the backbone of right-to-know because it provides essential information such as:
- Chemical identity and composition
- Hazards and symptoms of exposure
- First aid measures
- Fire-fighting measures
- Accidental release measures
- Handling/storage requirements
- Exposure limits and PPE recommendations
In practice, SDS access fails when documents are scattered across binders, outdated, or difficult to find quickly.
SwiftSDS helps solve this by providing a centralized SDS library in a secure cloud location, allowing employees to retrieve the correct SDS instantly from a phone, tablet, or desktop—especially important during spills, exposures, or emergency response.
Labels: immediate hazard cues at the point of use
Labels are the first line of communication. HazCom requires employers to ensure labels remain legible and are not removed or defaced (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)). Labels may include:
- Product identifier
- Signal word (Danger/Warning)
- Hazard statements
- Precautionary statements
- Pictograms
Workplace labeling becomes especially important when chemicals are transferred to secondary containers (spray bottles, smaller jugs, process containers). The right-to-know system breaks down quickly when secondary containers are unlabeled or mislabeled.
Right to know training: turning information into safe behavior
Right to know training is required when employees are assigned to work with hazardous chemicals and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced (29 CFR 1910.1200(h)). Training should be understandable and practical—not a checkbox.
Effective right-to-know training typically covers:
- Where hazardous chemicals are present in the work area
- How to read labels and interpret SDS sections
- How employees can detect releases (odor, visual cues, monitoring)
- Health and physical hazards (acute vs. chronic effects)
- PPE, safe handling, and storage practices
- Emergency procedures for spills, fires, and exposures
A key point: training should reflect the actual chemicals and tasks in your facility—not generic examples.
Who Must Comply and When It Applies
HazCom applies broadly across general industry workplaces that use hazardous chemicals, from manufacturing to healthcare to maintenance operations. If employees may be exposed under normal conditions of use—or in foreseeable emergencies—HazCom obligations apply.
Written Hazard Communication Program
Employers must develop, implement, and maintain a written program describing how they meet HazCom requirements (29 CFR 1910.1200(e)). This written plan typically includes:
- How SDSs are maintained and accessed
- Labeling procedures (including secondary containers)
- Employee training approach and documentation
- A list (inventory) of hazardous chemicals
- How the employer will inform employees about hazards of non-routine tasks
- How contractors and other employers on-site are informed about chemical hazards
SwiftSDS can support this process by pairing your SDS library with chemical inventory management—tracking chemical locations, quantities, and expiration dates—so your written program and on-the-floor reality stay aligned.
Common “Right to Know” Gaps OSHA Cites
Even well-intentioned employers run into problems that can lead to increased risk—and potential citations. Frequent breakdowns include:
- Missing SDSs for chemicals in use
- SDS binders that are not accessible during all shifts or in all areas
- Outdated SDSs that don’t match current products
- Employees who can’t explain where SDSs are kept or how to use them
- Unlabeled secondary containers
- No documented hazard communication training
- Chemical inventory lists that don’t reflect actual storage and use locations
A practical way to reduce these gaps is to centralize documents and make access easy. SwiftSDS is designed to reduce friction by keeping SDSs organized in a single system, supporting GHS-aligned documentation, and enabling mobile access so workers can retrieve safety information wherever they are.
Best Practices for Building a Strong OSHA Right to Know Program
To make your right-to-know program effective (not just compliant), focus on these actions:
- Build and maintain an accurate chemical inventory
- Verify you have an SDS for every hazardous chemical and that it’s the most current version
- Ensure SDSs are readily accessible during every shift
- Audit labeling practices, especially for secondary containers
- Provide right to know training that matches real tasks, chemicals, and exposure scenarios
- Review and update the written HazCom program when processes or chemicals change
- Run periodic spot-checks: ask employees to locate an SDS and explain label pictograms
Centralizing your SDS process with SwiftSDS can make these steps significantly easier by reducing document hunting, simplifying updates, and keeping SDS access consistent across departments and job sites.
Streamline Right to Know Compliance With SwiftSDS
Meeting the the right to know standard is ultimately about protecting people—making sure workers can identify hazards quickly, understand the risks, and take the right precautions. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) sets the baseline, but strong programs go beyond minimum requirements by making safety information fast and practical to use.
If you’re managing SDS binders, chasing updated sheets from suppliers, or struggling to keep chemical inventories accurate, SwiftSDS can help. With a centralized SDS library, GHS support, inventory tracking, and mobile access, SwiftSDS helps reduce compliance gaps while improving day-to-day chemical safety.
Ready to simplify HazCom right to know? Explore SwiftSDS and start building a faster, more reliable SDS management process today.