In Texas, a serious violation of 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom / GHS) carries a maximum penalty of $16,550 per violation in 2026, rising to $165,514 for a willful or repeat violation. HazCom / GHS is enforced for private construction employers by federal OSHA.
29 CFR 1910.1200 · Texas
HazCom / GHS Requirements in Texas
HazCom / GHS in Texas: 2026 penalties, who enforces 29 CFR 1910.1200, the paragraphs cited and free tools.
Verified vs OSHA sources · 2026-10-05
TexasGeneral Industry (29 CFR 1910)Federal OSHA Jurisdiction
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1910.1200 72 times in Texas construction (2.4% of its construction citations there, the 9th most-cited standard there). The paragraph cited most was 1910.1200(e)(1) with 20 citations.
72
1910.1200 citations in Texas construction, FY2025
(e)(1)
paragraph cited most in Texas (20 citations)
9.5
fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers in construction, Texas, 2024 (BLS)
Federal OSHA in Texas: 29 CFR 1910.1200, FY2025
Counted · 2026-09-2672
citations of 29 CFR 1910.1200 in 33 inspections
$137,179
penalties, current amounts ($176,735 as first proposed)
2.4%
of the 3,040 federal construction citations in Texas
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom / GHS) 72 times in inspections of Texas construction employers. It ranked ninth of the 105 standards cited in them. By classification: 47 serious, 25 other-than-serious. Most-cited paragraphs: 1910.1200(e)(1) (20), 1910.1200(g)(8) (13), 1910.1200(h)(1) (10).
Counted by HazComFast from the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA enforcement data (inspection and violation tables, retrieved September 26, 2026): citations issued October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 on federal OSHA inspections of construction employers (NAICS 23) in the state, deleted citations excluded, penalties at current amounts. OSHA's own cited-standards tool does not break federal states out; summed over every state, this count matches it within a few citations (6,778 for 1926.501, against 6,772). data.dol.gov
What federal OSHA is targeting in Texas
Texas has no state OSHA plan for private-sector work, so there is no state rule to read. What differs here is which hazards federal OSHA schedules inspections for, as set out in published emphasis directives.
Regional Emphasis Program for Transportation Tank Cleaning
CPL 2 02-00-032B · Dallas Regional Office · effective August 1, 2024
“This Instruction applies to all worksites in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, and those worksites in New Mexico that are under Federal Jurisdiction.”
Cleaning transportation tanks is programmed by name across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. It is the single directive that puts all three chemical standards into one inspection: the residue left in the tank is a hazardous chemical the employer must have classified and communicated, the tank itself is a permit-required confined space, and going in means a respiratory protection program with the right cartridge for what was carried.
Regional Emphasis Program for the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry
DAL-CPL-04-00-003 · Dallas Regional Office · effective October 7, 2024
“This Instruction applies to all worksites in Oklahoma, Texas, and those worksites in New Mexico that are under Federal OSHA jurisdiction.”
Upstream oil and gas is programmed across Oklahoma and Texas. Well-site work brings hazard communication, permit-required confined spaces and hazardous energy control into the same inspection, and this directive is narrower than the region's grain and tank programs, which reach Arkansas and Louisiana as well.
Harmful exposures and work deaths in Texas, 2024
Texas recorded 557 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 564 in 2023. Exposure to harmful substances or environments caused 62 of them (11%). Construction accounted for 128.
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Texas, 2024
How Texas Enforces 29 CFR 1910.1200
Texas has no State Plan, so federal OSHA has jurisdiction. 29 CFR 1910.1200 is enforced by U.S. Department of Labor compliance officers using standard federal procedures and the federal penalty maximums.
In Texas, the FY2025 citations under 29 CFR 1910.1200 went most often to Masonry Contractors (15) and Roofing Contractors (11). A single inspection can produce several per-instance citations. Recurring self-audits against 29 CFR 1910.1200, before an officer arrives, are the most reliable defense.
Help and oversight in Texas
Free, confidential help: OSHA On-Site Consultation
In Texas, the program is Texas OSHA Consultation (Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation). 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.
Who inspects private employers here
Federal OSHA, from the Austin Area Office (Austin), the Corpus Christi Area Office (Corpus Christi), the Dallas Area Office (Richardson), the El Paso Area Office (El Paso), the Fort Worth Area Office (Fort Worth), the Houston North Area Office (Conroe), the Houston South Area Office (Houston), the Lubbock Area Office (Lubbock) and the San Antonio Area Office (San Antonio).
Read on osha.gov and the state's official statute site, September 26, 2026.
Texas Penalty Amounts for 29 CFR 1910.1200 (2026)
Verified · 2026-10-05| Violation type | 2026 maximum | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | $16,550 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Willful | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Repeat | $165,514 | Federal max · 29 CFR 1903.15(d) |
| Failure to abate | $16,550/day | up to $16,550 per day; total capped at 30x the daily amount (FOM Ch.6) |
Texas applies the federal OSHA maximums. Amounts are ceilings per violation. Federal OSHA reduces the proposed penalty for employer size, good faith and history (FOM CPL 02-00-164 Ch. 6). There was no inflation increase for 2026: the 2025 amounts remain in effect (OMB Memo M-26-11).
Filing Tier II in Texas
The chemical list your HazCom program keeps is also what EPA's Tier II inventory is built from. Here is what Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Tier II Chemical Reporting Program says about filing it:
- Every report goes through STEERS, the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System, where the state fees are also paid.
- Annual reports are due by March 1.
HazComFast keeps each jobsite's chemical quantities next to its safety data sheets and exports the Tier II data as an Excel workbook, a CSV file and a PDF summary.
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 Texas: Federal OSHA inspects private construction employers; Texas has no State Plan.
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 Texas, FY2025
Federal OSHA issued 72 citations under 29 CFR 1910.1200 to Texas construction employers in FY2025. The paragraphs cited most, with the official text. A serious violation carries up to $16,550.
- 1
1910.1200(e)(1) 20 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) 13 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(h)(1) 10 citations
“Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical …”
- 4
1910.1200(h)(3)(i) 6 citations
“Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, …”
- 5
1910.1200(h)(3)(ii) 5 citations
“The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area;”
- 6
1910.1200(e)(1)(i) 4 citations
“A list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that is referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet (the list may be compiled …”
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
Texas Safety & Enforcement Profile
26,559
Federal construction citations (national, FY2025)
3,040 of them in Texas (HazComFast count)
Federal OSHA
Enforces private construction
- Construction trades inspected most in Texas, FY2025: Roofing Contractors (502), Framing Contractors (475) and Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (196), out of 2,231 inspections opened (federal OSHA and State Plan combined).
- Cited most under 29 CFR 1910.1200 in Texas, FY2025: Masonry Contractors (15), Roofing Contractors (11) and Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (11), of 72 citations.
- Construction fatality rate in Texas, 2024: 9.5 per 100,000 full-time workers, 18th highest of the 40 states BLS published (all industries: 3.9).
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 Texas
Which Texas construction trades are cited most under HazCom / GHS?
In FY2025, federal OSHA issued 72 citations under 29 CFR 1910.1200 to Texas construction employers, most often to Masonry Contractors (15), Roofing Contractors (11) and Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (11) (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data, by the cited employer's NAICS industry). Federal OSHA inspects these employers directly, since Texas has no state plan covering the private sector. For context, federal OSHA issued 3,040 citations across 1,339 inspections of Texas construction employers in FY2025 (HazComFast count from Labor Department enforcement data). Companies in these trades should self-audit against 29 CFR 1910.1200 on a recurring basis.
How often is HazCom / GHS cited on Texas jobsites?
OSHA's cited-standards tool does not break Texas out, but the Labor Department's enforcement data do: in FY2025, federal OSHA issued 3,040 citations across 1,339 inspections of Texas construction employers, 72 of them under 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazComFast count). A HazCom / GHS citation in Texas can come from any inspection: programmed, complaint-driven or post-accident. Texas's fatality figures are shown above.
Who enforces Hazard Communication (1910.1200) in Texas?
Federal OSHA. Texas has no State Plan, so a U.S. Department of Labor compliance officer enforces 1910.1200 directly across general industry and construction, using the federal 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.
When do Texas employers have to update for the 2024 HazCom Standard?
Private employers in Texas are under federal OSHA, so the federal calendar applies. The 2024 update took effect July 19, 2024; after OSHA's January 15, 2026 extension, employers update alternative workplace labels, the written program and training, as necessary, by November 20, 2026 for substances and May 19, 2028 for mixtures (29 CFR 1910.1200(j)(2)(ii) and (j)(3)(ii)).
Can I get free OSHA help in Texas without an inspection?
Yes. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program in Texas is Texas OSHA Consultation (Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation). 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 do I file the EPCRA Tier II chemical inventory in Texas?
Every report goes through STEERS, the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System, where the state fees are also paid. Annual reports are due by March 1.
How often does federal OSHA cite 29 CFR 1910.1200 in Texas construction?
In FY2025, federal OSHA cited 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom / GHS) 72 times in 33 inspections of Texas construction employers, with $137,179 in penalties at current amounts ($176,735 as first proposed), 2.4% of the 3,040 citations those inspections produced. It ranked ninth of the 105 standards cited. (HazComFast count from U.S. Department of Labor OSHA enforcement data, retrieved 2026-09-26.)
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
19 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 standardsKentucky803 KAR 2:320, Section 6 (Subpart Z), with Kentucky's own MOCA standard at Section 2own maxMarylandCOMAR 09.12.31.01 GGown max
Other OSHA Standards in Texas
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.
Get the Binder in Order Before the Inspector Arrives. Are You Ready?
OSHA does not give advance notice of inspections (29 CFR 1903.6). Get the binder in order before the opening conference, not during it.
Serious Violation
$16,550
per violation (max)
VS
HazComFast Pro
$199/mo
10 jobsites, unlimited chemicals, unlimited workers
New sign-ups are paused. The free tools below need no account, and customers can log in as usual.
Your account keeps working as usual. Cancel anytime.