Hazard communication checklist — labels, SDS, and the gaps OSHA cites
Hazard communication compliance comes down to a chain: every chemical on site appears on an inventory, carries a complete GHS label, has a safety data sheet workers can actually reach, and is covered by training and a written program. The chain breaks at visible points — a spray bottle someone filled and never labeled, a faded drum label, an SDS binder locked in an office. OSHA Scan gives you a fast first pass: photograph your chemical storage and the AI flags visible label and storage issues with the standard each may relate to. It is an AI-assisted review of what the photo shows — it cannot read your SDS library or verify training.
- Written HazCom program exists
- Chemical inventory is current
- Shipped-container labels intact
- Secondary containers labeled
What does OSHA's hazard communication standard require?
29 CFR 1910.1200 requires a written program, a chemical inventory, GHS-compliant labels on shipped and workplace containers, safety data sheets accessible to workers during their shifts, and effective training before first exposure and when new hazards arrive. It is consistently among OSHA's most-cited standards, and most citations land on the visible pieces: labels and SDS access.
Do I need to label a spray bottle I filled from a labeled drum?
Yes, in almost every case. Secondary containers need a workplace label with the product identifier and hazard information. The narrow exception is a container filled by one worker for their own immediate use within the same shift — the moment it sits unattended or passes to someone else, it needs a label.
Can AI check hazard communication compliance from a photo?
It checks the visible chain: unlabeled containers, unreadable or missing labels, risky storage arrangements, and whether SDS access is anywhere in frame. It cannot read your SDS library, confirm training, or identify what's inside a container — those need a person. Use the scan to catch label drift between formal reviews, with each finding referencing the OSHA standard it may relate to.