OSHA Published Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) Series 

Blog Post 4: Safety Data Sheet Updates

Thank you following along throughout our OSHA HCS Updates blog post series! Throughout this journey, CHEMTREC has provided a thorough examination of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) final rule. Our inaugural post offered a comprehensive overview, followed by weekly breakdowns of key updates. We explored Hazard Classification updates in our second blog and last week we published blog post three, Label Element Allocation and General Label Updates. In our fourth and final installment, we cover Safety Data Sheet (SDS) updates! 

Do you need help updating your Safety Data Sheets? Click here to see how CHEMTREC can help! 

Summary of Updates

(Changes from HCS 2012 to HCS 2024 have been bolded for your convenience) 

Clarified the language in 29 CFR § 1910.1200 ( (g)(2) :

The chemical manufacturer or importer shall make sure that the safety data sheet is in English (although the employer may maintain copies in other languages as well), and includes at least the following section numbers and headings, and associated information under each heading, in the order listed under Appendix D (Safety Data Sheets- Mandatory Minimum Information).

Changes to Appendix D to 29 CFR § 1910.1200—Safety Data Sheets (Mandatory) 

A safety data sheet (SDS) shall include the information specified in Table D.1 under the section number and heading indicated for sections 1-11 and 16. While each section of the SDS must contain all of the specified information, preparers of safety data sheets are not required to present the information in any particular order within each section. If no relevant information is found for any given subheading within a section, the SDS shall clearly indicate that no applicable information is available. Sections 12-15 may be included in the SDS, but are not mandatory. 

Table D.1. Minimum Information for an SDS

(Changes from HCS 2012 to HCS 2024 have been identified in red in the table below)

As we conclude this blog series, we sincerely hope you’ve found value and insight in our breakdown of the OSHA HCS updates. Remember to stay connected with us on social media to stay updated on all our latest insights on the final HCS rule: Facebook | X | LinkedIn  

For more details about what the Hazard Communication Standard includes, view the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard pdf.

Learn more by checking out CHEMTREC's full blog series for OSHA HCS Updates:

• Week of May 30 – Comprehensive Insight on OSHA HCS Updates
• Week of June 3 – HCS Updates: Physical and Health Hazard Classifications 
• Week of June 10 – HCS Updates: Allocation of Elements and Labels
• Week of June 17 – HCS Updates: Safety Data Sheets- this post
• Week of June 24 – HCS Updates: FAQ on OSHA’s Revised Hazard Communication Standard

Please note: These are the author’s opinions and should not be taken as OSHA’s interpretation nor do they represent legal advice. Readers should consult with a qualified attorney for advice on a specific legal issue. The information provided is based on the author’s understanding of the regulation at the time of writing. This blog’s main purpose is to inform readers of the published Hazard Communication Standard.