In Kentucky, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom / GHS) carries a maximum penalty of $7,000 per violation in 2026, rising to $70,000 for a willful or repeat violation. HazCom / GHS is enforced for private construction employers by Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH). Kentucky sets its own maximums, below the federal baseline.
29 CFR 1910.1200 · Kentucky
HazCom / GHS Requirements in Kentucky
HazCom / GHS in Kentucky: 2026 penalties, who enforces 803 KAR 2:320, Section 6 (Subpart Z), with Kentucky's own MOCA standard at Section 2, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
KentuckyGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)State Plan: Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH)State-set maximums
In FY2025, Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) cited 29 CFR 1910.1200 9 times in Kentucky construction (1.6% of its construction citations there, the 17th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1910.1200(e)(1) with 5 citations.
9
1910.1200 citations in Kentucky construction, FY2025
(e)(1)
paragraph cited most in Kentucky (5 citations)
7.6
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Kentucky, 2024 (BLS)
Kentucky 29 CFR 1910.1200 Enforcement, FY2025
Verified · 2026-08-089
citations of 29 CFR 1910.1200 (FY2025)
$9,500
penalties for this standard
1.6%
of the state's 563 construction citations
In FY2025, Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) cited 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom / GHS) 9 times on Kentucky construction jobsites with $9,500 in penalties for it (current amounts), about 1.6% of every construction citation the state issued that year. That put it 17th on Kentucky's most-cited construction list for FY2025.
What Kentucky's own rule says
“Lettering on signs and instructions required by paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be a minimum letter height of two (2) inches.”
Kentucky adopts Subpart Z, hazard communication included, except as modified by its own Sections 1 through 5, and one of those is a substance standard federal OSHA does not have. Section 2 regulates 4,4'-methylene bis (2-chloroaniline), CAS 101-14-4, with regulated areas, prescribed sign wording, a two-inch minimum letter height, and container labeling tied back to 1910.1200. So a Kentucky chemical inventory can carry a labeling duty that no federal HazCom checklist would surface, and the state regulation is where you find it.
803 KAR 2:320, Section 6 (Subpart Z), with Kentucky's own MOCA standard at Section 2The duty itself differs from the federal text.
Read in Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH)'s own rule text · verified 2026-08-08
Harmful exposures and work deaths in Kentucky, 2024
Kentucky recorded 70 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 91 in 2023. Exposure to harmful substances or environments caused 10 of them (14%). Construction accounted for 10.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Kentucky, 2024
How Kentucky Enforces 29 CFR 1910.1200
Kentucky runs an OSHA-approved State Plan administered by Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH), which covers private-sector construction. Its compliance officers enforce Kentucky's own standards, which must be at least as effective as federal OSHA's and may go further. On this subject the rule is 803 KAR 2:320, Section 6 (Subpart Z), with Kentucky's own MOCA standard at Section 2, which differs from the federal text (see the state rule above). Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) cited 29 CFR 1910.1200 9 times in Kentucky construction in FY2025 (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards). Kentucky also sets its own civil-penalty maximums, below the federal baseline (see the penalty table below).
In Kentucky, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1910.1200 went most often to Roofing Contractors (4) and Masonry Contractors (3). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 803 KAR 2:320, Section 6 (Subpart Z), with Kentucky's own MOCA standard at Section 2, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
HazComFast records the state of every jobsite and shows that the Kentucky State Plan governs it. Start free
Help and oversight in Kentucky
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Kentucky, the program is OSH Education and Training (Kentucky Labor Cabinet - Kentucky OSH Program). OSHA describes it as “Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs.” It is separate from OSHA enforcement; the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Kentucky Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1910.1200 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $7,000 | Kentucky state maximum |
| Willful | $70,000 | Kentucky state maximum |
| Repeat | $70,000 | Kentucky state maximum |
| Failure to abate | $7,000/day | Kentucky state maximum per day |
Kentucky (KRS 338.991) sets its own maximums below the federal amounts: serious up to $7,000; willful/repeat up to $70,000. KY OSH cannot propose a penalty above these statutory caps. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) computes proposed penalties under its own State Plan procedures.
Key HazCom / GHS Requirements 29 CFR 1910.1200
- Maintain a written HazCom program
- Keep SDS accessible for every hazardous chemical
- Ensure containers have GHS-compliant labels
- Train employees on chemical hazards
- Maintain a chemical inventory list
- Update to GHS Rev 7 by 2026 deadlines
Who enforces it in Kentucky: Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) inspects private employers, construction included, under an OSHA-approved State Plan. Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) can add requirements beyond the federal standard above, so check its own rules as well.
The compliance checklist, the paragraphs OSHA cites nationally and what an inspector checks under 29 CFR 1910.1200 are on the 29 CFR 1910.1200 page.
Most-Cited HazCom / GHS Paragraphs in Kentucky, FY2025
Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) issued 9 citations under 29 CFR 1910.1200 to Kentucky construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $7,000.
- 1
1910.1200(e)(1) 5 citations
“Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) …”
- 2
1910.1200(g)(8) 2 citations
“The employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each …”
- 3
1910.1200(e)(4) 1 citation
“The employer shall make the written hazard communication program available, upon request, to employees, their designated representatives, the Assistant Secretary and the Director, in accordance with the requirements …”
- 4
1910.1200(g)(11) 1 citation
“Safety data sheets shall also be made readily available, upon request, to designated representatives, the Assistant Secretary, and the Director, in accordance with the requirements of § 1910.1020(e).”
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: citations issued in FY2025 to construction employers (NAICS 23), by the paragraph cited. Paragraph text: eCFR, current as of September 24, 2026. data.dol.gov
Kentucky Safety & Enforcement Profile
563
FY2025 construction citations
Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH)
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Kentucky, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (79), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (44) and Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (16), out of 287 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1910.1200 in Kentucky, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (4), Masonry Contractors (3) and Drywall and Insulation Contractors (1), of 9 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in Kentucky, 2024: 7.6 per 100,000 full-time workers, 31st highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 3.7).
HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) opened from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, federal OSHA and State Plan combined, grouped by the inspected employer's 2022 NAICS industry. HazComFast count from the Labor Department's OSHA enforcement data: citations issued in FY2025 to construction employers (NAICS 23), grouped by the cited employer's 2022 NAICS industry. Industry names are the Census Bureau's 2022 NAICS titles. data.dol.gov · BLS fatality rates by state, 2024
Free HazCom / GHS Compliance Tools
HazCom / GHS FAQ for Kentucky
What are the penalties for 29 CFR 1910.1200 violations in Kentucky in 2026?
In Kentucky, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1910.1200 carries a maximum penalty of $7,000 per violation, and a willful or repeat violation up to $70,000. Kentucky sets its own maximums, below the federal baseline. Kentucky (KRS 338.991) sets its own maximums below the federal amounts: serious up to $7,000; willful/repeat up to $70,000. KY OSH cannot propose a penalty above these statutory caps. Each distinct violation can be cited as its own item. (Source: KRS 338.991; verified 2026-10-05.)
Which Kentucky construction trades are cited most under HazCom / GHS?
In FY2025, Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) issued 9 citations under 29 CFR 1910.1200 to Kentucky construction employers, most often to Roofing Contractors (4), Masonry Contractors (3) and Drywall and Insulation Contractors (1) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) inspects these employers directly and may apply requirements beyond the federal standard. For context, Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) issued 563 construction citations across 177 inspections in FY2025. Companies in these trades should self-audit against 803 KAR 2:320, Section 6 (Subpart Z), with Kentucky's own MOCA standard at Section 2, Kentucky's own rule on this subject.
How often is HazCom / GHS cited on Kentucky jobsites?
In FY2025, Kentucky's state plan (Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH)) issued 563 construction citations across 177 inspections (OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23). HazCom / GHS can be cited during any of them: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Kentucky's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces Hazard Communication (1910.1200) in Kentucky?
KY OSH, the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health program, not federal OSHA. Kentucky runs a full OSHA-approved State Plan, so a state compliance officer enforces 1910.1200 across general industry and construction, at the state's penalty maximums. In federal construction inspections in FY2025, the HazCom paragraphs cited most were (e)(1), the written program; (h)(1), training; and (g)(8), SDS access.
Can I get free OSHA help in Kentucky without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Kentucky is OSH Education and Training (Kentucky Labor Cabinet - Kentucky OSH Program). OSHA describes it this way: "Primarily for smaller businesses, no-cost, confidential consultations help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs." Consultations are separate from OSHA enforcement, and the employer commits to correcting serious hazards.
How often does Kentucky cite 29 CFR 1910.1200 in construction?
In FY2025, Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health (KY OSH) cited 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom / GHS) 9 times on Kentucky construction jobsites, with $9,500 in penalties for that standard alone (current amounts), about 1.6% of the 563 construction citations the state issued that year. (Source: OSHA Frequently Cited Standards, NAICS 23; verified 2026-08-08.)
HazCom / GHS Guides & Resources
Compare this combination against any other state and standard with the enforcement risk lookup, or read the HazCom Enforcement Report for the national picture.
Related standards
HazCom / GHS in Other States
18 other state plans write a rule of their own for 29 CFR 1910.1200 rather than adopting the federal text unchanged. Those are listed first. Compare all of them side by side.
Alaska8 AAC 61.1110 (physical agent data sheets), with the adoption at 8 AAC 61.1010(b)ArizonaA.A.C. R20-5-602California8 CCR §5194 (Proposition 65 integration at §5194(f)(6))own maxHawaiiHAR §12-60-50(a) and §12-60-50(d)(3), with Exhibits A and BIndiana610 IAC 9-2-8(b), term substitutions applying to everything Indiana incorporatesown maxIowa481—210.4(88), with 481—210.2(88) on incorporated standardsMarylandCOMAR 09.12.31.01 GGown maxMichiganMIOSHA General Industry Part 430, R 325.77001 to R 325.77004, with MCL 408.1014a to 408.1014lown max
Other OSHA Standards in Kentucky
Sources & verification
Penalty amounts and plan-type data were checked on 2026-10-05 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. This page is informational and not legal advice; consult the enforcing agency or counsel for your specific situation.
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Serious violation, Kentucky
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per violation (max)
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