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OSHA Hazard Communication Letters of Interpretation
Single HCS Compliant Shipping Label that includes DOT and/or State Requirements
- Issued
- Record type
- Interpretation
- Historical standard
- HCS 2012 (historical)
- Current standard
- HCS 2024, as amended
ILPI assessment: Generally consistent; DOT pictogram change is now adopted
The central answer remains useful: an HCS label may also carry appropriate DOT and Proposition 65 information without obscuring, contradicting or casting doubt on required HCS information. See label presentation and supplemental information. Other authorities determine their own requirements.
The cited C.2.3.3 prohibition on duplicating a DOT hazard pictogram is historical. HCS 2024 removed it; use current pictogram requirements. Today’s C.2.3.3 instead addresses the optional HNOC pictogram.
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This comparison with current requirements is not a finding that OSHA has formally withdrawn this letter.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.
October 4, 2021
Mr. Kirk Nelson
Systems Administrator II, Authoring Services
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222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1750
Chicago, IL 60654
Dear Mr. Nelson:
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Thank you for your letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 's (OSHA) Directorate of Enforcement Programs, regarding label requirements when shipping containers under OSHA 's Hazard Communication standard [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] (HCS), 29 CFR § 1910.1200. This letter constitutes OSHA 's interpretation only of the requirements herein and may not be applicable to any situation not delineated within your original injury. Your questions are summarized below, followed by our responses.
Background: You question whether it is allowable to create a single hazardous material shipping label that comprises required labeling elements of OSHA 's HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS], the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the State of California 's Proposition 65 (CA Prop 65).
NOTE: The responses provided to your questions pertain only to OSHA 's HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS]. Label requirements pertaining to DOT and CA Prop 65 should be addressed to those authorities.
Question 1: Is it acceptable to combine DOT shipping label requirements with HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] shipping label requirements (29 CFR § 1910.1200(f)(1) [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] and Appendix C) [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] on a single label?
Response: OSHA 's HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] requires each immediate container of a hazardous chemical leaving the workplace be labeled, tagged, or marked with information specified in 29 CFR § 1910.1200(f)(1)(i)-(vi) [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS]. When a hazardous chemical 's immediate container is also the shipping container it must be labeled in accordance with the HCS paragraph (f)(1) [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] label requirements, aside from any DOT required elements. For example, when shipping chemical drums, totes, tanks, or other containers that serve as a chemical 's immediate container, both an HCS label and DOT pictogram are required.
While Appendix C to § 1910.1200, Allocation of Label Elements section C.2.3.3 [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS; original DOT-duplication rule removed; current C.2.3.3 concerns HNOCs],, states that the corresponding HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] pictogram shall not appear, the DOT does not view the HCS pictogram as a conflict and for some international trade both pictograms may need to be present on the label. OSHA has proposed to update Appendix C, section C.2.3.3 [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS; original DOT-duplication rule removed; current C.2.3.3 concerns HNOCs], to reflect this. See 86 Fed. Reg. 9576, 9698-99 (Feb. 16, 2021). In the meantime, the agency will allow both DOT and HCS pictograms for the same hazard on a label. See OSHA Brief: Hazard Communication Standards: labels and pictograms for additional information. This Brief can be found at: www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3636.pdf.
[ILPI note: At issuance: HCS 2012. The proposed change described here was adopted in HCS 2024. Compare current pictogram provisions; the old C.2.3.3 prohibition is no longer the current rule.]
Question 2: Is it acceptable to include the CA Prop 65 statement on a shipping label or would this contradict or cast doubt on the required HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] information?
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Response: OSHA views the inclusion of the CA Prop 65 statement as supplemental information to the HCS [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] label. The HCS does not prohibit a manufacturer from adding supplemental information to a label, as long as it does not contradict or cast doubt on the validity of the information required by the HCS. See section C.3.1 of Appendix C [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS]. Supplemental information need not be physically separated from the required information on the label; however, section C.3.2 [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS] provides that the placement of supplemental information must not impede identification of information required by the HCS. How a manufacturer designs the layout of the label is up to the preparer, as long as all the required HCS information is presented together. See 29 CFR § 1910.1200(f)(3) [ILPI: Original HCS 2012 context · Current HCS]; see also OSHA Letter to Ms. Erin McVeigh.
Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. I hope you find this information helpful. OSHA 's requirements are set by statute, standards, and regulations. Letters of interpretation do not create new or additional requirements but rather explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances. This letter constitutes OSHA 's interpretation of the requirements discussed. From time to time, letters are affected when the agency updates a standard, a legal decision impacts a standard, or changes in technology affect the interpretation. To ensure that you are using the correct information and guidance, please consult OSHA 's website at www.osha.gov. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-2190.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Stille, Acting Director
Directorate of Enforcement Programs
The original official public domain version of this document is available from OSHA at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2021-10-04.