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  1. Your Right to Understand: Hazard Communication and Safety

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What is the Right to Understand?

You have the right to understand the chemical hazards in your workplace. This right goes far beyond just knowing that hazardous chemicals exist. It ensures that you are:

✔ Informed about the presence and risks of chemical hazards.

✔ Prepared to handle hazardous substances safely.

✔ Empowered to protect yourself and others through knowledge and proper safety practices.

This principle is at the core of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, which aims to make chemical safety an accessible and actionable part of your daily work experience.

From “Right to Know” to “Right to Understand”

Originally, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard focused on your “Right to Know.” Employers were required to inform workers of hazardous chemicals and provide access to Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and warning labels.

But awareness isn’t enough. That’s why OSHA evolved the standard into the “Right to Understand,” ensuring that workers truly comprehend chemical hazards and know how to stay safe.

✅ Right to Know: You’re aware that hazardous chemicals are present.

✅ Right to Understand: You know what those hazards mean, how to protect yourself, and how to respond effectively.

Pro Tip #1: The Right to Understand empowers you to actively participate in safety. It means being able to read a label, understand a Safety Data Sheet, and apply that information on the job.

Employer Responsibilities

The responsibility doesn’t stop with providing documents—employers must ensure comprehension. This means creating a clear and accessible hazard communication system that supports safe behaviors.

Here’s what employers must provide:

✔ A Written Hazard Communication Program – A document that outlines the company’s policies, training requirements, and responsibilities related to chemical safety.

✔ A Hazardous Chemicals Inventory – A comprehensive list of all hazardous substances used or stored on site. This allows employees to know what risks they may face in different parts of the workplace.

✔ Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) – Detailed documents for each chemical. These must be available at all times and employees must be trained on how to interpret and use them.

Pro Tip #2: Availability isn’t enough—employees must actually understand it. Employers are responsible for delivering training in a language and format that all employees can grasp.

Applying Hazard Communication in the Workplace

Understanding is only powerful when it’s applied. Here’s how to turn information into action:

  1. Interpret Labels and SDSs – Recognize pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and precautionary instructions.
  2. Apply Safety Information – Use this knowledge when handling chemicals, storing them, or responding to emergencies.
  3. Follow Safety Procedures – Know your company’s rules for handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials.
  4. Use Equipment Properly – Make sure you understand how to wear and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other safety tools.

Warning: Ignoring label instructions or bypassing PPE—even briefly—can lead to serious injury or exposure. Treat each hazard with respect, no matter how familiar it seems.

Taking Action: How to Protect Yourself

Protecting yourself starts with staying informed and following through with safety best practices. Here’s what you can do every day:

✔ Know where your company keeps the Hazard Communication Program and SDSs.

✔ Review the SDS before using a new chemical.

✔ Learn your company’s emergency procedures.

✔ Always follow label warnings and SDS instructions.

✔ Use the right PPE (e.g., gloves, goggles, respirators) every time.

✔ Report any spills, leaks, or damaged labels immediately.

✔ Encourage coworkers to take hazard communication seriously.

Pro Tip #3: If anything about a chemical’s hazards or the safety procedures is unclear, ask questions. OSHA protects your right to know—and understand.

Why the Right to Understand Matters

The transition from “Right to Know” to “Right to Understand” puts you in the driver’s seat of your workplace safety.

✔ It ensures you are not just aware of the risks—but prepared to act.

✔ It reduces workplace injuries and illnesses.

✔ It builds a safety culture based on knowledge, not just compliance.

By embracing your Right to Understand, you become a proactive partner in creating a safer, more informed workplace—for yourself and for those around you.

If you’re ever unsure, speak up. Understanding is your strongest line of defense.