Introduction 

All chemicals in all industries, i.e., production, laboratory, maintenance, and other areas, require suitable handling. Once a chemical is detected as a health hazard at OSHA or GHS classification or in a hazard assessment, it creates downstream duties related to compliance, employee protection, and corporate risk management. This serves to emphasize the importance of preventative chemical safety in all sectors.  

This blog will explore when and why a chemical is determined to be a health hazard in the U.S., how this classification will impact your company and more on how Learning Management Systems (LMS) can help boost EHS training efforts to ensure your employees remain informed and compliant. 

 

What Is a Health Hazard Chemical?  

For OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), a product is a health hazard where it can produce any one of the following effects on exposure under conditions of use:  

  • They may not have any disease or exposure-related acute or chronic effects.  
  • Effects on the local level (skin irritation or eye damage)  
  • Generalized effects (body, damage to organs, or cancer)  

 As per OSHA, the health hazard chemicals are those that have been found by scientifically valid testing to cause harmful biological effects in humans or animals.  

These can be in the form of irritants, corrosive materials, carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or respiratory sensitizers, as well as toxic chemicals. 

 

OSHA’s Classification of Health Hazards  

OSHA classifies such health hazards into several different types, some of which overlap with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for classification and labelling of chemicals.  

The primary health risk categories are described by:  

Acute Toxicity:  

Agents that can produce adverse effects following a single exposure, and for which fits logistic regression models were performed through (by route of exposure) inhalation, oral dermal. Example: Cyanide or carbon monoxide.  

 

Skin Corrosion/Irritation:  

Anything that causes undesirable effects on your skin after using it.For example, hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide.  

Severe Eye Damage/Eye Irritation:  

Chemicals that cause severe eye damage or irritation. Example: Ammonia or strong alkalis.  

 

Respiratory or Skin Sensitization:  

Agents that may cause allergies upon skin contact. Example: Isocyanates or formaldehyde.  

 

Germ Cell Mutagenicity:  

Substances that are suspected of being capable of inducing heritable mutations in the germ cells of humans. Example: Ethylene oxide.  

 

Carcinogenicity:  

Carcinogenic or Suspected Carcinogen. Example: Benzene, asbestos, or formaldehyde.  

 

Reproductive Toxicity:  

Agents that impair fertility or harm the fetus. Example: Lead compounds, or certain phthalates.  

 

Specific Target Organ Toxicity (STOT):  

Substances that produce damage to organs or tissues other than the target organ or tissue following direct contact, exposure, or administration over an extended period.  

 

Aspiration Hazard:  

Liquids that can get into the lungs if they are swallowed or vomited, leading to severe lung damage—example: Kerosene or mineral spirits.  

These categorizations indicate which label elements – for instance, pictograms and hazard statements – are needed on Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and containers to make sure that workers can easily identify the risks involved.  

 

The GHS as a Global Hazard Communication System  

The GHS also harmonizes OSHA’s Hazard Communication at an international level. It harmonizes determining and communicating health risks across borders.  

Under the GHS, chemicals are classified according to the nature and degree of health hazards. For instance, acute toxicity can be from Category 1 (most toxic) to Category 5 (least harmful).  

This international harmonization means that whether a substance is used in California or Canada, workers will get the same information about their health hazards and how to work with them safely.  

 

The Significant Role of the GHS  

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard was revised to align with the GHS to achieve consistency in international hazard communication. This approach will allow the identification and communication of health threats in a standardized manner across borders.  

In GHS, chemicals are placed into categories depending on the nature and the severity of their effects on health. For instance, acute toxicity can be classified from Category 1 (most severe) to Category 5 (least severe).  

This wouldn’t be a global harmonization if workers don’t have the same information about health hazards or safety precautions, whether you’re working with a chemical in California or Canada.

 

How Employers Decide Whether a Chemical Is a Health Hazard  

The company does not have to test the chemicals itself. Instead, they go with the SDS given to them by the manufacturer or importer.  

By contrast, the employer has a duty to ensure these SDSs are properly accessible and updated for its employees to be trained in the information contained.  

Every SDS has specific sections on health hazards, such as:  

  • Section 2: Hazard identification  
  • Section 4: First-aid measures  
  • Section 8: Exposure controls/personal protection  
  • Section 11: Toxicological information  

A chemical is considered a health hazard if an SDS lists data for acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, or reproductive toxicology.  

 

Why Detecting Health Hazards Matters For U.S. Organizations  

For employers in the U.S., including those within manufacturing, laboratories, and chemical processing, accurately recognizing health hazard chemicals is not simply a compliance issue – it is also a matter of ethics.  

Here’s why it matters:  

1. OSHA Compliance:  

Improper labelling or communicating health hazards can result in substantial OSHA fines and penalties.  

2. Employee Safety:  

Well-informed workers are less likely to be affected by diseases associated with exposure, such as dermatitis, respiratory ill health, or cancer.  

3. Liability Reduction:  

Correct identification of hazards and training of employees is really the only defense a company has against lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims.  

4. Reputation Management:  

Clients and regulators trust companies with robust EHS practices. Companies that can show they have strong EHS policies in place are considered responsible partners by clients or regulators.  

Examples of Common Workplace Health Hazard Chemicals  

  • Solvents (Toluene, Acetone) – nervous system and liver damage.  
  • Cleaners (Ammonia, Bleach) – irritating or corrosive burns.  
  • Pesticides (Organophosphates, for example) damage the nervous system.  
  • Metals (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium) – result in chronic organ toxicity.  
  • Labor Supply Reagents (such as Formaldehyde or Ethidium Bromide) -carcinogen or mutagen.  

These chemicals must be marked, stored, and used following OSHA and EPA regulations by employers.  

 

Controlling Exposure to Health Hazard Chemicals  

To mitigate risk, there are some layered approaches:  

  • Substitution or Elimination:  

EHS managers and safety officers must substitute safer chemicals or products for hazardous ones when feasible.  

  • Engineering Controls:  

Under the EHS teams, the engineering department should design suitable fume hoods, ventilation systems, or air separation barriers.  

  • Administrative Controls:  

Safety coordinators and supervisors must develop rules for safe working practices and exposure monitoring schemes.  

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):  

Employers need to issue suitable gloves, safety goggles, respirators, and clothing.  

  • Training and Communication:  

Employers and EHS managers must provide routine hazard communication training, so employees know about the hazards and how to read SDSs.  

 

The Role of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in Communication  

SDS is the bedrock of hazard communication. Shorthand Society membership was limited to “scientific assessments of a chemical’s effects on health” and the identification of control measures.  

Software-based SDS management platforms like CloudSDS enable companies to do things like:  

  • Maintain up-to-date records.  
  • Have “readily accessible” SDSs in compliance with OSHA.  
  • Generate GHS-compliant labels automatically.  
  • Monitor changes in regulations and permissible exposure limits.  

Digitizing SDS management for today’s businesses is critical not only for compliance but also to streamline audits and inspections.  

 

Conclusion  

The above-mentioned discussion has shown that when a chemical is considered a health hazard, it means it has the potential to cause any adverse effect on human health, whether immediate or delayed. Identifying and managing these chemicals is essential for workplace safety and regulatory compliance.  

For the U.S. employers, compliance is not just about avoiding penalties—it’s about creating a culture of responsibility and care.  

Understanding, labeling, and communicating health hazards through OSHA and GHS-aligned systems ensures that every worker, from lab technician to factory operator, can handle chemicals safely and confidently.