Hazard Communication in Alaska: AKOSH and the 2024 HazCom Update

Short answer: Adopted by AKOSH Program Directive 26-04 (June 8, 2026; first adopted by PD 24-09, September 3, 2024). Hazard communication in Alaska is enforced by AKOSH under Alaska’s State Plan, and State Plans adopt federal OSHA’s 2024 update on their own timelines. Status, rule citation and dates checked October 10, 2026 against official sources linked below; not legal advice.

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Who enforces HazCom in Alaska

Alaska runs its own OSHA-approved State Plan. Workplace hazard communication is enforced by AKOSH, the occupational safety and health program of the Division of Labor Standards and Safety in the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

“The Alaska State Plan covers all private sector places of employment in the state”, except areas federal OSHA keeps, including maritime employment, worksites on navigable waters, certain federally owned Native American health care facilities, employers within the Metlakatla Indian Community and Denali National Park, contractors at listed military and Coast Guard sites, U.S. Postal Service contractors, and aircraft cabin crew on aircraft in operation. “The Alaska State Plan also covers state and local government workers”; it does not apply to federal government employers (osha.gov/stateplans/ak).

The Alaska HazCom rule

8 AAC 61.1010(b), under which 29 CFR 1910.1024–1910.1450 (a range that includes 1910.1200), “as amended”, are occupational safety and health standards in Alaska, plus Alaska’s additional hazard communication standards in 8 AAC 61.1110.

Is the 2024 HazCom update in effect in Alaska?

“Adoption of the OSHA’s hazard communication standard final rule as defined in 29 CFR Part 1910 … It adopts the first correction of OSHA’s promulgated on 10/9/24. In addition, it also formally adopts the corrections promulgated on 1/8/26 and on 2/13/26.” — AKOSH Program Directive 26-04

“On January 15, 2026, OSHA extended the compliance dates in the HCS 2024 by four months. … Employers’ compliance dates are November 20, 2026, for substances and May 19, 2028, for mixtures” — AKOSH Program Directive 26-06 (HCS 2024 inspection procedures)

Alaska-specific differences

Alaska adds duties beyond the federal text:

• Physical agent data sheets (8 AAC 61.1110): “In addition to the requirements set out in 29 C.F.R 1910.1200, as amended, an employer shall have a physical agent data sheet for each physical agent present in the employer’s workplace”, such as noise, heat or cold stress, vibration, radiation or lasers above the ACGIH thresholds, and must train employees on physical agents at initial assignment and when a new one is introduced (8 AAC 61.1110).
• Posting (8 AAC 61.1110(f)): a poster with the provisions of AS 18.60.065–18.60.068 must be displayed, and SDSs and physical agent data sheets must be posted, or instead a list of the chemical and product names with where the sheets are kept.
• Right to know (AS 18.60.065–18.60.068): on an employee’s request the employer must provide the SDS or equivalent information, requesting it from the department or the manufacturer within three state working days if it does not have it; if it is not provided within 15 calendar days, the employee may not be exposed until it is (AS 18.60.067) (AS 18.60.065–.068).

The federal dates, for context

Federal OSHA’s updated standard was published May 20, 2024 (89 FR 44144) and took effect July 19, 2024. The compliance dates in 29 CFR 1910.1200(j) (eCFR, checked October 10, 2026) are:

Between May 20, 2024 and those dates, anyone covered may comply with the revised standard, the version in effect as of July 1, 2023, or both ((j)(4)). These dates already include the four-month extension OSHA published on January 15, 2026 (91 FR 1695); the 2024 rule as first published said January 19, 2026, July 20, 2026, July 19, 2027 and January 19, 2028. A State Plan that adopted the 2024 rule but not the extension, or that set its own dates, can have different deadlines, which is why the state section above matters.

What to do now (true in every state)

Every State Plan’s HazCom rule must be at least as effective as the federal one, so these basics apply whichever version your state enforces today:

• A written hazard communication program with a list of the hazardous chemicals on site, using the product identifier on each SDS. See what the written program must contain.
• A current SDS for every hazardous chemical, readily accessible to employees on every shift in their work areas. Your supplier writes the SDS and must send it with the first shipment; your job is to obtain, keep and give access to it. See SDS requirements for employers.
• Labels on shipped containers left intact, and workplace labels on containers you fill yourself. See secondary container labels.
• Training at initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced. See HazCom training requirements.
• The 2024 update: as revised SDSs arrive from suppliers, swap them in, and update workplace labels, the written program and training by the date that applies in your state (see above). If your state’s date is unclear, ask the agency and plan for the earliest possible date.

SDSentry keeps your library of supplier SDSs current and reachable from any phone, so swapping in revised sheets during the 2024 update is quick. SDSentry manages the SDSs your suppliers publish; it does not write them.

Tier II is a different law

EPCRA Tier II chemical inventory reporting comes from a separate federal law (the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, an EPA program) and is filed with state and local agencies, not with AKOSH. See Tier II reporting in Alaska.

Other State Plan states

See the 2024 HazCom update status in all State Plan states we cover.

Sources (checked October 10, 2026)

• AKOSH Program Directive 26-04
• AKOSH Program Directive 26-06
• AKOSH Program Directive 24-09 (replaced)
• 8 AAC 61.1010
• 8 AAC 61.1110
• AS 18.60.065-18.60.068
• osha.gov: Alaska State Plan
• eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.1200(j)
• Federal Register 91 FR 1695 (January 15, 2026)

Questions about how AKOSH applies a rule to your workplace: contact AKOSH.

Educational information only, not legal or compliance advice. Requirements can vary by product, use and jurisdiction — verify at osha.gov/hazcom and 29 CFR 1910.1200, or consult a qualified professional.