In a fast-moving yard or warehouse, hazardous materials like adhesives, sealants, paints, treated lumber, or chemical cleaners often come and go with little fanfare. But if those products aren’t labeled correctly, your team could be exposing your company to serious safety risks and major compliance fines.
Hazardous material labeling is a requirement under OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), and it’s frequently misunderstood, ignored, or treated as an afterthought. Here’s why that’s a costly mistake—and how to avoid it.
🚩 1. It’s Treated as a Manufacturer’s Responsibility Only
The mistake:
Many distributors assume labeling is only the responsibility of the product manufacturer. Once it hits the warehouse or job site, the risk is considered “handled.”
Why it’s costly:
If a container is relabeled, transferred, or broken down into smaller units (like for repackaging or mixed loads), your company is responsible for making sure those secondary containers are labeled properly.
How to fix it:
Train staff on secondary labeling rules
Keep a supply of pre-approved labels for repackaging or job-site containers
Include labeling steps in your receiving and repacking workflows
🚩 2. Damaged or Missing Labels Go Unnoticed
The mistake:
Faded, torn, or completely missing labels on hazardous materials go unreported—especially in outdoor storage or high-handling areas.
Why it’s costly:
Without a readable label, employees can’t safely store, handle, or dispose of the material. This opens the door to chemical exposure, fire risk, and HazCom violations.
How to fix it:
Include label checks in your daily safety walk
Replace unreadable labels immediately using SDS-based templates
Store hazardous materials in covered, protected areas when possible
🚩 3. Teams Don’t Understand What Labels Are Required to Include
The mistake:
Employees might not know that OSHA and GHS (Globally Harmonized System) labeling rules include specific requirements for what must appear on a label.
Why it’s costly:
Incomplete labels can lead to fines during inspections—or worse, incidents where workers handle chemicals without knowing the risks.
A compliant label must include:
Product identifier
Signal word (e.g., Danger or Warning)
Hazard statements (e.g., “Causes skin irritation”)
Pictograms (e.g., flame, skull, health hazard)
Precautionary statements
Manufacturer contact info
How to fix it:
Keep sample labels posted in work areas
Include label training during onboarding and safety refreshers
Use label printers integrated with your ERP or SDS database
🚩 4. Repackaging and Transfers Aren’t Documented
The mistake:
When materials are transferred to smaller containers or repacked for delivery, labeling often gets skipped—especially if it’s “just for internal use.”
Why it’s costly:
OSHA doesn’t care if it’s temporary—every hazardous container must be labeled, even for in-house use.
How to fix it:
Use pre-printed secondary labels for any transfers
Build label printing into your dispatch or staging workflow
Document transfers and train staff on the requirement, no exceptions
🚩 5. SDS Access Is Not Linked to the Label
The mistake:
Even if a label is present, it’s meaningless without access to the corresponding Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
Why it’s costly:
In an emergency or inspection, you must show that SDSs are available, current, and match every product on site.
How to fix it:
Use a digital SDS system or ERP module that links product codes to SDSs
Post SDS access instructions in work areas and on mobile devices
Train employees on how to retrieve and interpret SDS information
🚩 6. You’re Not Ready for an OSHA Inspection
The mistake:
Labeling and SDS records aren’t reviewed regularly—so when an OSHA inspector shows up, your team scrambles (or fails).
Why it’s costly:
OSHA citations for HazCom violations are among the most frequently issued—and can run into tens of thousands of dollars per violation.
How to fix it:
Perform quarterly audits of all hazardous material storage and labeling
Assign a compliance lead to manage labeling and SDS accuracy
Keep printed SDS binders as a backup—even if you use digital tools
Final Thought
Hazardous material labeling isn’t optional, and it’s not just a box to check. It’s a critical part of workplace safety—and it’s your responsibility to get it right, every time.
A missed label may seem minor, but the risks it carries—injury, chemical exposure, fines, or fire—can be major. Build labeling checks into your day-to-day routines, train your team, and use your ERP or inventory system to support compliance.
