OSHA Data Reveals 10 States Failing in Chemical Safety Training
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Trace One.
Millions of US workers handle, store, or work around hazardous chemicals every day—from cleaning chemicals and industrial adhesives to flammable gases and corrosives.
Without proper training, clear labeling, and accessible safety data sheets, workers may not fully understand the health hazards they face, including respiratory illness, chemical burns, or fire and explosion hazards.
Federal regulators and occupational health professionals widely view hazardous communication as a fundamental part of workplace safety because it determines whether workers have the knowledge necessary to protect themselves.
To address these hazards, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) in 1983. Often referred to as a “must know” rule, the standard requires employers to classify chemical hazards, label containers, maintain safety data sheets, and train employees in safe handling procedures.
Yet more than four decades after its adoption, HazCom remains one of OSHA’s most frequently cited workplace safety standards, reflecting the persistence of compliance gaps across industries and states.
To identify where US employers are failing to warn workers about chemical hazards, Trace One researchers analyzed OSHA enforcement data from 2021 to 2025. Read more about how it works at the end.
Here are the counties with the most HazCom violations.
10. Vermont
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 11.2
- A complete HazCom violation: 141
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 10.6%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $164,855
- The most common HazCom violations are: There is no written safety plan
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Production
9. Kansas
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 13.9
- A complete HazCom violation: 817
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 11.5%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $1,373,306
- The most common HazCom violations are: There is no written safety plan
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Building
8. Maine
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 14.7
- A complete HazCom violation: 402
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 12.9%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $691,072
- The most common HazCom violations are: There is no written safety plan
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Production
7. In Hawaii
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 18.4
- A complete HazCom violation: 463
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 10.2%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $264,985
- The most common HazCom violations are: Inaccessible Safety Data Sheets
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Accommodation and food services
6. Connecticut
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 19.2
- A complete HazCom violation: 1,393
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 13.4%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $482,962
- The most common HazCom violations are: No chemical safety training
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Building
5. Oregon
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 21.5
- A complete HazCom violation: 1,782
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 6.2%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $355,711
- The most common HazCom violations are: There is no written safety plan
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Other Services
4. Tennessee
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 22.2
- A complete HazCom violation: 3,159
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 21.6%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $641,782
- The most common HazCom violations are: There is no written safety plan
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Production
3. Delaware
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 26.5
- A complete HazCom violation: 542
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 17.2%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $761,460
- The most common HazCom violations are: No chemical safety training
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Building
2. Maryland
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 39.0
- A complete HazCom violation: 4,370
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 20.7%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $1,019,154
- The most common HazCom violations are: No chemical safety training
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Building
1. Alaska
- HazCom breach by 100k workers: 44.7
- A complete HazCom violation: 553
- HazCom breach inspection sharing: 11.1%
- Total penalties for HazCom violations: $639,068
- The most common HazCom violations are: No chemical safety training
- The most common industry for HazCom violations: Health Care and Social Assistance
How to do it
The data used in this study comes from OSHA’s Enforcement Data and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics.
To find the states where US employers most often fail to warn their workers about chemical hazards, Trace One researchers analyzed and ranked the states based on their total HazCom violations per 100,000 workers from 2021 to 2025.
A violation is considered HazCom-related if the enforcement record references OSHA standard 1910.1200 and any of its subsections.
For more context, total HazCom violations, share of HazCom violation inspections, total fines for HazCom violations, most common HazCom violations, and industry average HazCom violations are calculated for each state.
