Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Trace One.
Millions of U.S. workers handle, store, or work near hazardous chemicals every day—from cleaning solvents and industrial adhesives to flammable gases and corrosive substances.
Without proper training, clear labeling, and accessible safety data sheets, employees may not fully understand the health risks they face, including respiratory illness, chemical burns, or fire and explosion hazards.
Federal regulators and occupational health experts widely view hazard communication as a foundational component of workplace safety because it determines whether workers have the information needed to protect themselves.
To address these risks, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) in 1983. Often referred to as the “right-to-know” rule, the standard requires employers to classify chemical hazards, label containers, maintain safety data sheets, and train workers on safe handling procedures.
Yet more than four decades after its adoption, HazCom remains one of OSHA’s most frequently cited workplace safety standards, indicating persistent compliance gaps across industries and regions.
To identify where U.S. employers are failing to warn workers about chemical dangers, researchers at Trace One analyzed OSHA enforcement data from 2021 through 2025. Learn more about the methodology at the end.
Here are the states with the most HazCom violations.
10. Vermont
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 11.2
Total HazCom violations: 141
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 10.6%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $164,855
Most common HazCom violation: No written safety plan
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Manufacturing
9. Kansas
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 13.9
Total HazCom violations: 817
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 11.5%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $1,373,306
Most common HazCom violation: No written safety plan
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Construction
8. Maine
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 14.7
Total HazCom violations: 402
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 12.9%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $691,072
Most common HazCom violation: No written safety plan
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Manufacturing
7. Hawaii
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 18.4
Total HazCom violations: 463
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 10.2%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $264,985
Most common HazCom violation: Inaccessible Safety Data Sheets
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Accommodation and Food Services
6. Connecticut
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 19.2
Total HazCom violations: 1,393
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 13.4%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $482,962
Most common HazCom violation: Missing chemical safety training
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Construction
5. Oregon
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 21.5
Total HazCom violations: 1,782
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 6.2%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $355,711
Most common HazCom violation: No written safety plan
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Other Services
4. Tennessee
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 22.2
Total HazCom violations: 3,159
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 21.6%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $641,782
Most common HazCom violation: No written safety plan
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Manufacturing
3. Delaware
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 26.5
Total HazCom violations: 542
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 17.2%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $761,460
Most common HazCom violation: Missing chemical safety training
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Construction
2. Maryland
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 39.0
Total HazCom violations: 4,370
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 20.7%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $1,019,154
Most common HazCom violation: Missing chemical safety training
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Construction
1. Alaska
HazCom violations per 100k workers: 44.7
Total HazCom violations: 553
Share of inspections with a HazCom violation: 11.1%
Total HazCom violation penalties: $639,068
Most common HazCom violation: Missing chemical safety training
Most common industry for HazCom violations: Health Care and Social Assistance
Methodology
The data used in this study is from OSHA’s Enforcement Data and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics.
To determine the states where U.S. employers most frequently fail to warn their workers about chemical dangers, researchers at Trace One analyzed and ranked states based on their total HazCom violations per 100,000 workers from 2021 through 2025.
Violations were considered to be HazCom-related if the enforcement record referenced OSHA’s 1910.1200 standard and any of its subsections.
For additional context, the total HazCom violations, share of inspections with a HazCom violation, total HazCom violation penalties, the most common HazCom violation, and the most common industry for HazCom violations were calculated for each state.
