Understanding the HazCom Plan Builder
What Is a HazCom Plan?
A Hazard Communication Plan (HazCom Plan) is a written document that every employer in the United States must have if their workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals. This is not optional — it is a federal law, specifically OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200, commonly known as the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS).
The purpose of the plan is simple: make sure every person who works with or near hazardous chemicals knows what those chemicals are, what dangers they pose, and how to protect themselves. The written plan is the backbone of that effort — it describes how your company communicates chemical hazards to employees.
Think of it as your company's operating manual for chemical safety. Just as a fire evacuation plan tells everyone what to do during a fire, a HazCom plan tells everyone how chemical hazards are identified, documented, and communicated across the workplace.
Who Needs a HazCom Plan?
Short answer: Almost every business.
If your workplace has any hazardous chemicals — even common ones like cleaning products, paints, adhesives, lubricants, or solvents — you need a written HazCom plan. This applies to:
- Manufacturing plants
- Warehouses and distribution centers
- Laboratories and research facilities
- Construction sites
- Auto repair shops
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Schools and universities
- Office buildings (yes — cleaning chemicals count)
- Restaurants (cleaning and sanitizing chemicals)
- Retail stores with back-of-house chemicals
The only exemptions are workplaces that genuinely have zero hazardous chemicals present — which is extremely rare.
What OSHA Requires
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires your written HazCom plan to address seven key areas. These are not suggestions — they are legally mandated elements that OSHA inspectors will look for:
The 7 Required Sections
| # | Section | OSHA Reference | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Company & Site Information | General | Who you are, where you are, and who is responsible for the program |
| 2 | Chemical Inventory | §1910.1200(e) | What hazardous chemicals are on-site and how the inventory is maintained |
| 3 | Container Labeling | §1910.1200(f) | How containers are labeled and how labels are verified and maintained |
| 4 | Safety Data Sheets (SDS) | §1910.1200(g) | Where SDSs are kept and how employees access them |
| 5 | Employee Training | §1910.1200(h) | How employees are trained on chemical hazards |
| 6 | Non-Routine Tasks | §1910.1200(e)(1)(ii) | How chemical hazards are communicated for unusual or infrequent tasks |
| 7 | Contractor Coordination | §1910.1200(e)(2) | How you communicate hazards to outside contractors on your site |
Let's look at each section in detail.
The 7 Sections Explained
Section 1: Company & Site Information
Purpose: Establish who is covered by the plan, where it applies, and who is in charge.
What it includes:
- Company name and legal entity
- Site address and facility description
- Program Coordinator — the person responsible for implementing and maintaining the HazCom program. OSHA requires that someone be designated with this responsibility. In Tellus, this is assigned during onboarding (OSHA Step 1).
- Coordinator's contact information (phone, email)
- Date the plan was created or last revised
- Next annual review date
Why it matters: When an OSHA inspector arrives at your facility, the first thing they ask for is the written HazCom plan. The second thing they look for is who is responsible for it. This section answers both questions immediately.
Section 2: Chemical Inventory
OSHA Reference: §1910.1200(e) — "The employer shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program... which shall include a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present."
What it includes:
- Where the chemical inventory is maintained (e.g., "Maintained in Tellus ChemIQ" or "Paper binder in the safety office")
- How often the inventory is updated (e.g., monthly, quarterly, when new chemicals arrive)
- Who is responsible for maintaining the inventory
- How new chemicals are evaluated before being brought on-site
- How decommissioned or removed chemicals are handled
What OSHA expects: Your inventory must be a complete list of all hazardous chemicals in the workplace. It doesn't need to list every product — but it needs to list every hazardous chemical (identified by name and CAS number) present in those products.
How Tellus helps: If you use ChemIQ's chemical inventory feature, your plan can reference it directly. The plan generator auto-populates your chemical count, hazard class distribution, and storage locations from your actual inventory data.
Section 3: Container Labeling
OSHA Reference: §1910.1200(f) — "The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals leaving the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked."
What it includes:
- How incoming shipped containers are checked for proper GHS labels (product name, signal word, hazard statements, pictograms, precautionary statements, supplier info)
- What happens when a label is missing, damaged, or illegible
- How workplace labels (secondary containers) are created and maintained
- Whether the portable container exemption applies — OSHA allows portable containers to be unlabeled only if the worker who transferred the chemical will use it all within their work shift
- How label inspections are conducted and how often
GHS Label Elements:
Every shipped container of a hazardous chemical must have these six elements on its label:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Identifier | Chemical name or product name matching the SDS |
| Signal Word | "Danger" (more severe) or "Warning" (less severe) |
| Hazard Statement(s) | Standardized H-codes describing the nature of the hazard (e.g., "H225: Highly flammable liquid and vapor") |
| Pictogram(s) | Red-bordered diamond symbols (flame, skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, etc.) |
| Precautionary Statement(s) | P-codes describing prevention, response, storage, and disposal measures |
| Supplier Identification | Name, address, and phone number of the manufacturer or distributor |
How Tellus helps: The plan generator includes your company's labeling policy (GHS, NFPA 704, or HMIS), secondary container labeling procedures, and label inspection frequency — pulled from your system configuration.
Section 4: Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
OSHA Reference: §1910.1200(g) — "Employers shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift."
What it includes:
- Where SDSs are kept (physical binder, digital system, both)
- How employees access SDSs during work hours — including nights, weekends, and emergencies
- How SDSs are obtained for new chemicals
- How missing or outdated SDSs are handled
- Record retention policy (OSHA requires SDS access for 30 years for chemicals employees were exposed to)
What "readily accessible" means: Workers must be able to get to the SDS quickly during their work shift. A locked office that is closed after 5pm does not count. A digital system (like Tellus ChemIQ's SDS Library) that is accessible from any workstation, tablet, or phone satisfies this requirement — as long as workers are trained on how to use it and have reliable access.
How Tellus helps: If your company uses Tellus for SDS management, the plan can state that SDSs are maintained digitally in Tellus with 24/7 access via web and mobile. The generator also includes your SDS review schedule and procedures for handling outdated or missing sheets.
Section 5: Employee Training
OSHA Reference: §1910.1200(h) — "Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area."
What it includes:
- When training occurs:
- Before initial assignment to work with hazardous chemicals
- When new chemicals are introduced
- When new hazards are discovered
- Annual refresher training (best practice, not strictly required by federal OSHA but required by many state plans)
- What training covers:
- The requirements of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard
- What hazardous chemicals are in the work area
- How to read and understand labels
- How to read and understand Safety Data Sheets
- How to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemicals
- Protective measures (PPE, engineering controls, work practices)
- Emergency procedures for spills and exposures
- How competency is verified:
- Written tests, practical demonstrations, or documented observation
- How training is documented:
- Sign-in sheets, completion certificates, or digital records
Why this section gets the most scrutiny: Employee training violations are among OSHA's most frequently cited deficiencies. Inspectors ask workers directly — "Do you know what chemicals you work with? Do you know where the SDS is? Do you know what to do if there's a spill?" If workers can't answer, the company is in violation regardless of what the written plan says.
How Tellus helps: If you use SafePath (Tellus's training module), the plan can reference your training courses, completion records, and quiz scores. The plan generator lists your configured training topics, delivery method (in-person, online, hybrid), and refresher frequency.
Section 6: Non-Routine Tasks
OSHA Reference: §1910.1200(e)(1)(ii) — The plan must describe "methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks."
What it includes:
- Definition of non-routine tasks at your facility (e.g., entering confined spaces, cleaning chemical spill residue, maintenance on chemical piping, opening sealed chemical containers)
- How workers are informed of chemical hazards before performing non-routine work
- What additional training or protective measures are provided
- How Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) or task-specific briefings are conducted
- Who authorizes non-routine chemical tasks
Example: A maintenance worker who normally works in an office is asked to clean out a storage area that contains chemical residue. This is a non-routine task. Before starting, the worker must be informed of what chemicals may be present, what hazards they pose, and what protective equipment is needed.
Section 7: Contractor Coordination
OSHA Reference: §1910.1200(e)(2) — "The employer shall also include methods the employer will use to inform... outside contractors with employees working in the employer's workplace of the hazardous chemicals to which they may be exposed."
What it includes:
- How outside contractors are notified of hazardous chemicals on your site before work begins
- How contractors provide you with information about chemicals they bring to your site
- What documentation is exchanged (SDSs, chemical lists, emergency contact information)
- How emergency procedures are communicated to contractor employees
- Who coordinates chemical safety information between your company and contractors
Why this matters: In multi-employer worksites (such as construction projects or facilities with maintenance contractors), chemical hazards from one employer can affect workers of another employer. Both the host employer and the contractor share responsibility for communicating these hazards.
How the Tellus Plan Builder Works
Two Tiers: Basic and Premium
Tellus offers two approaches to creating your HazCom plan, depending on your subscription tier:
| Feature | Basic (Starter) | Premium (Standard / Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Plan creation | Template-driven questionnaire | AI-powered with dynamic questions |
| Content generation | Pre-written paragraphs selected from options | AI generates consultant-grade content tailored to your specific chemicals and operations |
| Question types | Static questions for all 7 OSHA sections | Static + AI-generated questions specific to your chemical inventory |
| Answer assistance | Manual answers only | AI-suggested answers based on your company data, with accept/dismiss controls |
| Confidence scoring | N/A | Each AI-generated section includes a confidence score |
| Processing | Synchronous (instant) | Asynchronous via AWS SQS (reliable, scalable) |
| Approval workflow | Full (draft → approval → active) | Full (same workflow) |
| Version management | Full | Full |
| Audit logging | Full (16 action types, CSV export) | Full |
| PDF export | Included | Included |
Step-by-Step: Creating a Plan
Step 1: Start a New Plan
Navigate to Plan Builder > HazCom Plan and click "Create New Plan." You'll provide:
- A plan name (e.g., "Main Facility HazCom Program 2026")
- The site this plan covers (each site needs its own plan)
- The Program Coordinator (the person OSHA requires to be responsible)
For Premium plans: Once you click Create, the system automatically starts a multi-phase background setup:
- Gathers your company profile and site details
- Pulls your chemical inventory and SDS data
- Analyzes hazard classifications present on-site
- Generates dynamic questions tailored to your specific chemicals
- Pre-fills answers using your actual company data
You'll see an animated progress overlay showing each phase. When complete, you're automatically taken to the questionnaire.
Step 2: Answer the Questionnaire
The questionnaire walks you through all 7 OSHA sections. Each section contains questions about your company's specific procedures:
- Question types: Text inputs, dropdowns, multi-select checkboxes, yes/no toggles, date pickers, and pre-filled fields (auto-populated from your company data)
- Progress tracking: A completion percentage bar shows how far along you are in each section
- AI suggestions (Premium): Questions marked with an AI badge have suggested answers based on your company data. Click "Accept" to use the suggestion or "Dismiss" to enter your own answer.
- Required questions: Marked with an asterisk — you must answer all required questions before generating the plan
Example questions by section:
| Section | Example Question | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Company Info | What is the company name? | Pre-filled |
| Inventory | Where is the chemical inventory maintained? | Select (ChemIQ / Physical binder / Spreadsheet) |
| Labeling | What is your secondary container labeling procedure? | Textarea |
| SDS | Where are Safety Data Sheets located for employee access? | Select (Digital / Physical / Both) |
| Training | How often do employees receive HazCom refresher training? | Select (Annual / Semi-annual / Quarterly) |
| Non-Routine | How are employees informed before performing non-routine chemical tasks? | Textarea |
| Contractors | How are outside contractors notified of chemical hazards on-site? | Textarea |
Dynamic questions (Premium only): If your inventory includes specific chemical classes — say, 15 flammable liquids and 8 corrosive substances — the AI generates targeted questions like:
- "How are flammable liquids stored to prevent ignition sources?"
- "What PPE is required when handling corrosive chemicals?"
- "Are flammable and corrosive chemicals stored in separate cabinets?"
These questions don't appear in Basic plans because they require analyzing your actual chemical data.
Step 3: Generate the Plan
Once the questionnaire is 100% complete, click "Generate Plan."
- Basic plans: The system instantly compiles your answers into a formatted document using templates. Each answer is merged into pre-written paragraphs with your specific details inserted.
- Premium plans: The AI generates consultant-grade content for all 7 sections, using the full context of your company profile, site details, chemical inventory, SDS coverage, and all your questionnaire answers. This runs asynchronously — you'll see a progress indicator while the AI works.
The result is a complete, ready-to-review HazCom plan in markdown format.
Step 4: Review and Edit (Split View)
After generation, you enter the Split View Editor:
- Left panel: Markdown text editor showing the plan content, organized by section tabs
- Right panel: Live HTML preview that updates as you type
You can edit any section's content directly. AI-generated text is yours to modify — add company-specific details, remove sections that don't apply, or rewrite paragraphs in your own voice. Changes are auto-saved (debounced every 500ms).
Step 5: Submit for Approval
When you're satisfied with the plan, click "Submit for Approval." The plan status changes from Draft to Pending Approval.
Only users with the following roles can approve plans:
- Admin — Company administrators
- Coordinator — The designated Program Coordinator
- Manager — Site managers
The approver reviews the plan and either:
- Approves it (optionally with notes), moving it to
Approvedstatus - Rejects it with a reason, sending it back to
Draftfor further editing
Step 6: Publish
Once approved, any editor can click "Publish" to activate the plan. This:
- Changes the plan status to
Active - Archives any previously active plan for that site (there can only be one active plan per site)
- Sets the next annual review date (365 days from publication)
- Locks the plan from further editing — to make changes, you must create a new version
Step 7: Annual Review
OSHA expects the HazCom plan to be kept current. Tellus sets a review date one year from publication. When the review date approaches, the system alerts the Program Coordinator that it's time to review and potentially update the plan.
To make changes to an active plan, click "Create New Version." This creates a new Draft copy of the plan with all sections, answers, and content carried forward. You make your changes, re-generate if needed, and go through the approval process again. The new version supersedes the old one when published.
How Tellus Uses Your Company Data
The Plan Builder doesn't operate in isolation — it pulls real data from across the Tellus platform to create accurate, company-specific plans:
Data Sources
| Source | What It Provides | Where It's Used |
|---|---|---|
| Company Profile (AdminHQ) | Company name, legal entity, industry type, size | Section 1: Company Info |
| Site Information (AdminHQ) | Site name, address, manager, employee count | Section 1: Site Details |
| Program Coordinator (Onboarding) | Coordinator name, email, phone | Section 1: Coordinator Info |
| Chemical Inventory (ChemIQ) | Product names, CAS numbers, hazard classes, GHS pictograms, quantities | Section 2: Inventory description, Section 5: Training content |
| SDS Library (ChemIQ) | SDS count, revision dates, manufacturer info | Section 4: SDS procedures |
| Hazard Classifications (ChemIQ) | H-codes, P-codes, signal words, pictogram distribution | Dynamic questions (Premium), Content generation |
| Labeling Configuration (ChemIQ) | GHS/NFPA/HMIS policy, container types | Section 3: Labeling procedures |
| Training Records (SafePath) | Course completion, quiz scores, training dates | Section 5: Training documentation |
| Regulatory Data (Compliance Hub) | TRI chemicals, Prop 65 chemicals, carcinogens | Dynamic questions (Premium) |
Pre-Filled Fields
Several questionnaire fields are automatically populated from your existing data:
- Company name and address
- Site name and address
- Program Coordinator name, email, and phone
- Chemical count and hazard class summary
- SDS count and storage location
- Effective date (today's date)
For Premium plans, the AI uses all of this data to generate context-aware content. For example, if your inventory shows 45 chemicals including 12 flammable liquids and 3 carcinogens, the AI will specifically address flammable storage and carcinogen handling in the relevant sections.
Approval Workflow in Detail
The approval workflow ensures that HazCom plans are reviewed by qualified personnel before becoming official company documents.
Status Flow
DRAFT
│ (author edits questionnaire and content)
▼
SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL
│
▼
PENDING APPROVAL ──── REJECT ────► DRAFT (with rejection notes)
│ │
│ ▼
│ (author revises and re-submits)
▼
APPROVED
│
▼
PUBLISH
│
▼
ACTIVE (one per site; previous active plan → ARCHIVED)
│
▼
[365 days later → Annual Review reminder]
│
▼
CREATE NEW VERSION → DRAFT (new version, cycle repeats)
Key Rules
- Only Draft plans can be edited. Once submitted, the plan is locked until approved or rejected.
- One active plan per site. Publishing a new plan automatically archives the previous one.
- Approvers need the right role. Only Admins, Coordinators, and Managers can approve.
- Rejection returns to Draft. The rejection reason is preserved so the author knows what to fix.
- Version chain is preserved. Every version links to its predecessor, creating a complete audit trail.
What Approvers Should Check
When reviewing a plan for approval, the approver should verify:
- Completeness — All 7 sections are filled out with accurate information
- Coordinator accuracy — The named coordinator is actually designated for this role
- Inventory match — The plan reflects the current chemical inventory
- SDS procedures — The described access method actually works (can workers reach SDSs 24/7?)
- Training accuracy — The training procedures described match what actually happens
- Contractor procedures — If contractors work on-site, the coordination procedures are real and workable
- Site specificity — The plan is tailored to this specific site, not a generic template
Version Management
HazCom plans are living documents. As your chemical inventory changes, employees join or leave, and procedures evolve, the plan must be updated. Tellus handles this through formal version management:
How Versioning Works
- Every plan has a version number (e.g., 1.0, 1.1, 2.0)
- Creating a new version from an active or archived plan copies all content into a new Draft
- The new Draft can be edited without affecting the active plan
- Once the new version is approved and published, it replaces the active plan
- The old version is automatically archived (never deleted)
- The complete version chain is preserved: v1.0 → v1.1 → v2.0 → etc.
When to Create a New Version
| Trigger | Why |
|---|---|
| Annual review date reached | OSHA expects annual review of the written program |
| New chemicals added to inventory | Plan must list all hazardous chemicals present |
| Chemical removed from inventory | Inventory list should be current |
| New site or facility changes | Physical layout changes may affect SDS locations or storage |
| Program coordinator changes | The named individual must be current |
| Training procedures updated | Plan must describe actual procedures |
| OSHA regulation changes | Plan must comply with current standards |
| After an OSHA inspection finding | Correct any deficiencies noted by the inspector |
Audit Logging
Every action taken on a HazCom plan is logged in a dedicated audit trail. This is critical for demonstrating due diligence during OSHA inspections and legal proceedings.
What Gets Logged
Tellus tracks 16 distinct action types across 5 categories:
| Category | Actions |
|---|---|
| General | Plan created, Plan updated, Plan deleted, Plan viewed |
| Section | Section answers updated, Section content edited |
| Workflow | Submitted for approval, Approved, Rejected, Published |
| Version | Version created, Version archived, Version restored |
| Export | PDF exported, DOCX exported, Preview generated |
What Each Log Entry Contains
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Timestamp | Exact date and time of the action |
| User | Who performed the action (name, email, user ID) |
| IP Address | Network address of the user |
| User Agent | Browser/device information |
| Action | What was done (one of the 16 types above) |
| Plan Version | Which version of the plan was affected |
| Plan Status | The plan's status at the time of the action |
| Details | Additional structured data about the action (JSONB) |
Viewing and Exporting Audit Logs
- Company-wide view: See all plan actions across all sites, filtered by date range, action type, or user
- Plan-specific view: See all actions for a single plan version
- CSV export: Download the full audit trail as a spreadsheet for compliance files or legal review
- Pagination: Large audit trails are paginated for fast loading
Why Audit Logs Matter
During an OSHA inspection, you may be asked:
- "When was this plan last reviewed?" — The audit log shows the exact date
- "Who approved this version?" — The log shows the approver's identity
- "Has the plan been updated since you added those new chemicals?" — The log shows version history
- "When were employees trained on the updated plan?" — Cross-reference with training records
PDF Export
The Plan Builder generates professional PDF documents that can be printed, shared, or filed for compliance records.
What the PDF Contains
- Cover page with company name, site, plan name, version, and effective date
- Table of contents linking to all 7 sections
- Full plan content for all 7 OSHA sections, formatted for readability
- Coordinator information and approval details
- Version metadata (version number, creation date, approval date)
Export Process
- Click "Export PDF" from the plan editor or plan view page
- The PDF is generated client-side using jsPDF
- The file downloads to your device immediately
- The export is logged in the audit trail
PDFs are tied to the specific plan version — exporting v1.0 always produces the same document, even after v2.0 is published. This ensures historical accuracy for compliance records.
OSHA Inspection Readiness
A well-maintained HazCom plan in Tellus positions your company for smooth OSHA inspections. Here's what inspectors typically look for and how Tellus helps:
| What OSHA Checks | How Tellus Addresses It |
|---|---|
| Is there a written HazCom plan? | Yes — generated, versioned, and stored digitally with audit trail |
| Is it specific to this site? | Yes — each site has its own plan with site-specific data |
| Does it name a responsible person? | Yes — Program Coordinator is a required field |
| Is there a chemical inventory? | Yes — plan references ChemIQ inventory with current chemical count |
| Are containers properly labeled? | Plan describes labeling procedures; ChemIQ tracks label generation |
| Can workers access SDSs? | Plan describes digital access via Tellus; SDS Library is 24/7 accessible |
| Have workers been trained? | Plan describes training program; SafePath tracks completion records |
| Is the plan current? | Version management with annual review reminders ensures currency |
| Can you prove who approved it? | Audit log captures approver identity, timestamp, and optional notes |
Business-Specific Guidance
Small Businesses (Under 50 Employees)
For small businesses, the HazCom plan can be straightforward:
- Use the Basic (Starter) tier — the template-driven questionnaire covers all OSHA requirements
- Focus on accuracy over length — a 5-page plan that accurately describes your procedures is better than a 50-page plan copied from the internet
- Designate the owner or safety lead as Program Coordinator
- Keep the chemical inventory current — even a small shop with 10-15 chemicals needs a proper list
Mid-Size Companies (50-500 Employees)
- Use the Premium (Standard) tier for AI-assisted content that addresses your specific chemical mix
- Create separate plans for each site if you have multiple locations
- Establish a formal approval workflow — have the safety manager or EHS coordinator review and approve
- Use version management to track annual reviews and updates
- Integrate with SafePath for training documentation
Large Enterprises (500+ Employees)
- Use the Premium (Pro) tier for maximum automation and integration
- Create site-specific plans across all locations — each with its own coordinator and approval chain
- Leverage the audit trail for enterprise compliance reporting
- Use the version history for tracking regulatory changes across all sites
- Consider cross-site plan cloning (planned feature) to standardize procedures across locations while allowing site-specific customization
Industries with Special Considerations
| Industry | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Extensive chemical inventories, TRI reporting, carcinogen handling, engineering controls |
| Healthcare | Pharmaceutical chemicals, lab chemicals, cleaning/disinfecting chemicals, chemotherapy drugs |
| Construction | Transient worksites, contractor coordination, lead and asbestos exposure, silica dust |
| Agriculture | Pesticides and herbicides, FIFRA requirements overlapping with HCS |
| Education | Lab chemicals (chemical hygiene plan under 1910.1450 may also apply), art supplies, cleaning chemicals |
| Food Service | Cleaning and sanitizing chemicals, pest control chemicals, refrigerants |
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1910.1200 | The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard — the federal regulation requiring written HazCom programs, SDSs, labels, and training |
| GHS | Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals — the international standard adopted by OSHA in 2012 for chemical classification, labels, and SDS format |
| SDS | Safety Data Sheet — a standardized 16-section document describing a chemical product's hazards, composition, handling procedures, and emergency information |
| HCS | Hazard Communication Standard — shorthand for 29 CFR 1910.1200 |
| Program Coordinator | The individual designated by the employer to be responsible for implementing and maintaining the HazCom program |
| H-Code | Hazard Statement Code (e.g., H225 = "Highly flammable liquid and vapor") — standardized GHS descriptions of hazard types |
| P-Code | Precautionary Statement Code (e.g., P210 = "Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames") — standardized GHS safety instructions |
| Pictogram | Red-bordered diamond-shaped symbol used on GHS labels to visually indicate hazard types (flame, skull, exclamation mark, etc.) |
| Signal Word | "Danger" (severe hazards) or "Warning" (less severe hazards) — appears on GHS labels and SDSs |
| PEL | Permissible Exposure Limit — the legal maximum airborne concentration of a chemical in the workplace, set by OSHA |
| Non-Routine Task | A task that employees do not regularly perform as part of their normal job duties, which may involve exposure to hazardous chemicals |
| Multi-Employer Worksite | A workplace where employees of more than one employer are present — both host and contractor employers have HazCom obligations |
| Active Plan | The currently published and effective HazCom plan for a site — there can only be one active plan per site at any time |
| Version | A specific iteration of a HazCom plan — new versions are created when changes are needed, preserving the complete history |
| Audit Trail | The complete record of every action taken on a HazCom plan — who did what, when, and from where |