8 CCR 5191 · California · FY2020 to FY2026
Chemical Hygiene Plan in California: OSHA citations under 8 CCR 5191, FY2020 to FY2026
32 citation items at inspected sites in California, from 23 inspections.
From Oct 1, 2019 to Sep 30, 2026, the Department of Labor's OSHA enforcement data record 32 citation items on chemical hygiene plans in laboratories at inspected sites in California, from 23 inspections, issued between May 2020 and June 2026: 30 under 8 CCR 5191 and 2 under 29 CFR 1910.1450. They fall in FY2020, FY2022, FY2023, FY2024, FY2025 and FY2026. 4 of the 23 cases have no close date in the data yet. These counts describe inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
The California State Plan office writes its citations under California rule numbers, not 29 CFR numbers: in FY2025 and FY2026, all 26,168 items it recorded carry a Title 8 section number. For chemical hygiene plans in laboratories, California's own text is 8 CCR 5191, so this page counts the items under it and shows apart the 2 items that carry 29 CFR 1910.1450, issued in FY2022.
What California's own rule says about chemical hygiene plans in laboratories
California prints this rule in General Industry Safety Orders, Article 109, Hazardous Substances and Processes. The sentences below are copied word for word from the text published by the California Department of Industrial Relations, read on Oct 21, 2026.
(e)(1)
“Where hazardous chemicals as defined by this regulation are used in the workplace, the employer shall develop and carry out the provisions of a written Chemical Hygiene Plan which is: (A) Capable of protecting employees from health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals in that laboratory and (B) Capable of keeping exposures below the limits specified in subsection 5191(c).”
(f)(1)
“The employer shall provide employees with information and training to ensure that they are apprised of the hazards of chemicals present in their work area.”
The federal text on the same subject is 29 CFR 1910.1450.
Citations on chemical hygiene plans in laboratories in California by fiscal year
| Fiscal year (Oct to Sep) | Under 8 CCR 5191 | Under 29 CFR 1910.1450 | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FY2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FY2022 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| FY2023 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| FY2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FY2025 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| FY2026 (to date) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
The most items fall in FY2023 (11). §5191(f) is the paragraph cited most: 6 of the 30 items under 8 CCR 5191 (20%).
California sections cited for chemical hygiene plans in laboratories
| Section | Title | Items | Paragraphs cited |
|---|---|---|---|
| §5191 (official text, opens in a new tab) | Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories | 30 | (f): 6; (e)(3): 5; (e): 5; (d): 3 |
Of the 32 citation items, the data classify 7 serious items and 25 other-than-serious items. Under 29 CFR 1910.1450, the data cite 1910.1450(e)(4) (1) and 1910.1450(e)(3)(iii) (1).
The 23 inspections behind the California items
48% of the 23 inspections with a recorded headcount were at sites with 26 to 100 employees. 21 of the 23 were recorded by the State Plan office. The headcount is the inspected site's, not the employer's total.
| 1 to 10 | 2 |
| 11 to 25 | 4 |
| 26 to 100 | 11 |
| 101 to 250 | 1 |
| 251 to 1,000 | 3 |
| 1,001 or more | 2 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 9 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 3 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 2 |
| Support Activities for Animal Production | 1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1 |
| Administration of Economic Programs | 1 |
| Junior Colleges | 1 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 |
The 12 most recent inspections
| Issued | Items | Paragraphs | Employees at the site | Industry (NAICS) | Office | Case closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 1 serious item | §5191(e) | 1,001 or more | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | State Plan | Not yet |
| May 2026 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(e)(1) | 26 to 100 | Scientific Research and Development Services | State Plan | June 2026 |
| March 2026 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(d)(1) | 26 to 100 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | State Plan | June 2026 |
| December 2025 | 2 other-than-serious items | §5191(e)(4), §5191(f)(1) | 26 to 100 | Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing | State Plan | January 2026 |
| November 2025 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(e)(3) | 1 to 10 | Scientific Research and Development Services | State Plan | Not yet |
| May 2025 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(f) | 11 to 25 | Scientific Research and Development Services | State Plan | August 2025 |
| April 2025 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(e) | 26 to 100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | State Plan | Not yet |
| April 2025 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(e)(4) | 26 to 100 | Scientific Research and Development Services | State Plan | May 2026 |
| February 2025 | 2 other-than-serious items | §5191(d), §5191(e) | 26 to 100 | Basic Chemical Manufacturing | State Plan | March 2025 |
| August 2024 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(d) | 11 to 25 | Scientific Research and Development Services | State Plan | June 2025 |
| September 2023 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(e)(3) | 11 to 25 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | State Plan | September 2023 |
| August 2023 | 1 other-than-serious item | §5191(f) | 26 to 100 | Scientific Research and Development Services | State Plan | Not yet |
Who enforced in California
California has an OSHA-approved State Plan that ordinarily covers private-sector employers and state and local government workers. 30 items were recorded by the State Plan's office and 2 by federal OSHA offices. OSHA's page on the California State Plan, with its coverage.
Next steps for a California employer
- Federal text of the standard: 29 CFR 1910.1450
- Free tool: HazCom Program Generator
- Free tool: GHS Label Generator
- Software: HazComFast SDS and chemical management
- Penalty maximums: OSHA penalties in California
Counted by HazComFast from Department of Labor OSHA data extracted Oct 20, 2026, deleted items left out; not a figure OSHA publishes. The Labor Department adds citations with a delay, so FY2026 is still incomplete and the live database can change any count. The rule text was read on Oct 21, 2026 in the publication of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Method. Not legal advice.