HazCom Violations Remain Widespread
An analysis of OSHA enforcement data from 2021 through 2025, regarding HazCom violations, found that HazCom remains one of OSHA’s most frequently cited workplace safety standards.
OSHA recorded 36,984 Hazard Communication violations from 2021–2025, equal to 5.6 violations per 100,000 workers.
Violations by Industry
HazCom violations are heavily concentrated in a small number of industries. From 2021 to 2025, the manufacturing industry recorded 10,021 violations—the highest total of any sector—followed by the construction industry with 8,678 violations. Together, these two sectors account for 50.6% of all HazCom violations nationwide during the five-year period.
The next tier of industries reported significantly lower totals, including:
- Accommodation & Food Services (2,189 violations)
- Retail Trade (2,005)
- Public Administration (1,756)
Sectors with less frequent exposure to chemical hazards, such as Finance & Insurance (13) and Information (81), recorded comparatively few citations.
From 2021 to 2025, OSHA conducted 150,832 inspections in construction, more than twice the 64,971 inspections in manufacturing, reflecting construction’s size and risk profile. Yet despite this heightened scrutiny, only 2.5% of construction inspections resulted in at least one HazCom violation—one of the lowest rates among major industries.
By contrast, 8.8% of manufacturing inspections led to a violation, suggesting that while construction is inspected more frequently, manufacturing inspections are more likely to uncover HazCom deficiencies.
Overall Violation Decline
HazCom violations have declined substantially since their peak. Citations reached 37,134 in 1989 and fell to 6,130 in 2025, declining 83.5% over that period.
More recently, 6,130 HazCom violations were recorded in 2025, representing a decline of 83.5% from the 1989 peak. While enforcement levels remain far lower than the decades prior, thousands of citations are still issued annually.
The broader adoption of digital compliance systems—including automated Safety Data Sheet (SDS) management platforms that centralize chemical inventories, update hazard classifications, and standardize labeling—has likely contributed to improved documentation accuracy and regulatory alignment, helping large employers reduce compliance gaps over time, the survey notes.
State Data
Maryland leads the nation in total HazCom violations. There were 4,370 violations during the 2021–2025 period, equal to 39.0 violations per 100,000 workers, one of the highest rates in the country.
When adjusted for workforce size, the geographic landscape shifts. Alaska records the highest rate at 44.7 HazCom violations per 100,000 workers, followed by Maryland (39.0) and Delaware (26.5), while Tennessee (22.2) and Oregon (21.5) also rank among the highest on a per-worker basis.