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OSHA Hazard Communication Letters of Interpretation
Hazard communication standard and pharmaceuticals
- Issued
- Record type
- Interpretation
- Historical standard
- 1910.1200, 1987 expanded rule (PDF)
- Current standard
- HCS 2024, as amended
ILPI assessment: Core drug guidance remains; modern classification and SDS/label formats apply
This letter addresses the obsolete 1987 version of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). Its central distinctions remain useful: coverage depends on hazards and applicable exemptions, and occasional crushing of a pill not normally dispensed that way differs from a drug designed for crushing or dissolving.
Under the current HCS, use complete current drug exemption and OSHA's pharmacy guidance. Evaluate the whole preparation, including hazardous excipients/solvents, not only the active ingredient. Apply hazard classification, shipped-container label elements and Appendix C, required SDS headings and order, no-information statements, and Appendix D and immediate SDS access (FAQ). Package inserts are not automatic SDS substitutes. Document efforts to obtain missing required sheets; a request alone does not establish compliant employee access. Current SDS/label information must reflect the actual product and use.
OSHA marks its matching original corrected 4/14/2009.
Last reviewed: .
About this ILPI assessment
This comparison with current requirements is not a finding that OSHA has formally withdrawn this letter. This assessment reflects editorial judgment informed by human review and AI assistance. It is an opinion, may contain errors or omissions, and is not an official OSHA determination. For guidance on how OSHA requirements apply to your circumstances, contact your local OSHA office.
OSHA's notice about interpretation letters
The following notice is published on OSHA's interpretation pages; it is general guidance, not a letter-specific withdrawal notice.
OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.
Source: OSHA's original letter page.
January 3, 1994
Mr. Charles P. Coe
Vice President, Quality Improvement
Owen Healthcare, Inc.
9800 Centre Parkway, Suite 1100
Houston, Texas 77274-2587
Dear Mr. Coe:
This is a response to your letter of July 20, concerning the application of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200 [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS], to pharmaceutical products. We regret the delay in responding to your inquiry.
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Your questions will be answered in the order they were presented in your letter.
- Does the HCS apply to all pharmaceuticals -- or only to pharmaceuticals that the manufacturer has determined as hazardous?
The HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] only applies to pharmaceuticals that the drug manufacturer has determined to be hazardous and that are known to be present in the workplace in such a manner that employees are exposed under normal conditions of use or in a foreseeable emergency. The pharmaceutical manufacturer and the importer have the primary duty for the evaluation of chemical hazards. The employer may rely upon the hazard determination performed by the pharmaceutical manufacturer or importer.
The HCS provides workers exposed to chemicals with the right to know the chemicals' hazards and associated protective measures. This is accomplished through implementations of a hazard communication program in each workplace where employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals. Employers are required to ensure that hazardous chemicals are labeled with chemical identity, appropriate hazard warnings, and name and address of the manufacturer, importer or responsible party; maintain MSDSs for hazardous chemicals in the workplace and make them readily accessible to exposed workers; provide training for employees to understand the chemicals hazards and be able to us the information on the labels and MSDSs to know how to protect themselves.
The employer is required to develop a written hazard communication program for their workplace that includes an inventory of all the hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The labels and MSDS are developed by the chemical manufacturer or importer of the product. MSDS are to be provided with the initial shipments to downstream users for any item that would expose employees to hazardous chemicals. Labels are required on containers of hazardous chemicals for every shipment.
- Are pharmaceuticals in a retail establishment which are packaged for sale to consumers exempt from the HCS?
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Yes, Section (b)(6)(v & vi) of the HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] exempts, "food, drugs, cosmetics, or alcoholic beverages in a retail establishment which are packaged for sale to consumers", and "foods, drugs, or cosmetics intended for personal consumption by employees while in the workplace".
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for hazardous chemical containing products in a solid dosage form (e.g., tablets and capsules) intended for direct administration to the patient -- or -- are these products exempt from the MSDS requirements?
Drugs, as defined in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, in solid, final form for direct administration to the patient (i.e., tablets, pills, capsules) are exempt from coverage under section (b)(6)(viii) of the HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS; now 1910.1200(b)(6)(vii)]. MSDSs are required far all other hazardous drugs.
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for hazardous chemical containing products in a solid dosage form (e.g., tablets and capsules) that are intended to be crushed or mixed prior to administration?
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for hazardous chemical containing products in solid dosage form (e.g., tablets and capsules) that are NOT intended to be crushed or mixed prior to administration -- even though it is possible that a nurse might choose to crush or mix them prior to administration?
9. Are pellet-filled and powder-filled capsules considered to be solid dosage forms?
10. Is a liquid-filled gelatin capsule considered to be a solid dosage form?
Answer to questions 4, 5, 9, and 10
Tablets, capsules or pills which are designed to be dissolved or crushed by employees prior to administration to a patient are not in "final form", and are covered by the HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS]. There may be situations where the tablet, capsule or pill is dissolved or crushed to facilitate patient administration when that is not typically the way it is dispensed. The "final form" exemption would apply in this situation.
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for products that DO NOT contain hazardous chemicals and that are intended to be crushed or mixed prior to use?
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MSDSs are not required for non hazardous drugs. MSDSs are required to be prepared and transmitted with the initial shipment of all hazardous chemicals including drugs and pharmaceutical products except for drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which are in solid, final form for direct administration to the patient (i.e., tablets, pills, or capsules) or which are packaged for sale to consumers in a retail establishment.
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for liquid pharmaceuticals (e.g., injectable products and oral liquid products) that DO NOT contain hazardous chemicals?
Liquid drugs which are hazardous chemicals would be covered if there is a potential for employee exposure to them. Non hazardous liquid drugs are not covered by the HCS.
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for ointments, creams, and other topical preparations that do not contain hazardous chemicals?
If the active ingredients in this dosage form are indeed non-hazardous, then these chemical containing products are not covered by the HCS and do not require MSDSs.
[ILPI note: At issuance: 1910.1200, 1987 expanded rule (PDF). Assess the entire preparation under current classification and complete current drug exemption. A nonhazardous active ingredient does not establish that every solvent, excipient or other component is harmless. Current required SDS headings and order, no-information statements, and Appendix D also applies.]
-
11. If the manufacturer will not or cannot provide a MSDS for a covered drug, must the pharmacy document its attempt to obtain a MSDS?
Yes, the pharmacy is to contact the drug manufacturer, importer, or distributor to request a MSDS. This action should be documented in the form of a letter. Section (g)(1) of the standard [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS] states that "the employer shall have a MSDS for each hazardous chemical they use." However, employers are not to be held responsible for inaccurate information on the MSDS which they did not prepare and they have accepted in good faith from the chemical manufacturer, importer or distributor.
Please bear in mind that the package inserts and the Physician's Desk References cannot be accepted in lieu of MSDSs, as these documents do not meet the specification requirements of MSDSs under the present rule.
We hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions please contact us at (202) 219-8036.
Ruth McCully, Director
Office of Health Compliance Assistance
July 20, 1993
General Industry Compliance Assistance
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20210
Gentlemen:
Owen Healthcare, Inc. manages about 250 hospital pharmacies in 41 states. There is some confusion among our pharmacies regarding the application of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200 [ILPI: Original HCS 1987 context (PDF) · Current HCS], to pharmaceuticals. For example, some of our pharmacies have been told that the HCS applies to all pharmaceuticals -- others have been told that the HCS applies only to pharmaceuticals that the manufacturer has determined as hazardous. Also, some have been told that there are exemptions -- others have been told that there are no exemptions.
Your written response to the following specific questions will help to clarify the standard:
Sincerely,
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- Does the HCS apply to all pharmaceuticals -- or only to pharmaceuticals that the manufacturer has determined as hazardous?
- Are pharmaceuticals in a retail establishment which are packaged for sale to consumers exempt from the HCS?
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for hazardous chemical containing products in a final solid dosage form (e.g., tablets and capsules) intended for direct administration to the patient -- or -- are these products exempt from the MSDS requirement?
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for hazardous chemical containing products in a solid dosage form (e.g., tablets and capsules) that are intended to be crushed or mixed prior to administration?
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for hazardous chemical containing products in a solid dosage form (e.g., tablets and capsules) that are NOT intended to be crushed or mixed prior to administration -- even though it is possible that a nurse might choose to crush or mix them prior to administration?
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for products that DO NOT contain hazardous chemicals and that are intended to be crushed or mixed prior to use?
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for liquid pharmaceuticals (e.g., injectable products and oral liquid products) that DO NOT contain hazardous chemicals?
- Must the pharmacy keep MSDSs for ointments, creams, and other topical preparations that DO NOT contain hazardous chemicals?
- Are pellet-filled and powder-filled capsules considered to be solid dosage forms?
- Is a liquid-filled gelatin capsule considered to be a solid dosage form?
- If a manufacturer will not or cannot provide a MSDS for a covered drug, must the pharmacy document its attempt to obtain a MSDS?
Thank you for your help on this inquiry.
Sincerely,
Charles P. Coe
Vice President, Quality Improvement
The original official public domain version of this document is available from OSHA at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1994-01-03.