Hazard Communication in Hawaii: HIOSH and the 2024 HazCom Update

Short answer: Not adopted as far as we could find; unconfirmed. Hazard communication in Hawaii is enforced by HIOSH under Hawaii’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 Hawaii

Hawaii runs its own OSHA-approved State Plan. Workplace hazard communication is enforced by the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

“The Hawaii State Plan applies to private-sector workplaces in the state”, except areas federal OSHA keeps, including maritime employment (but not marine construction not done on vessels), U.S. Postal Service contractors, contractors at Hawaii National Park and other exclusive federal enclaves, private employers inside secured military installations, and aircraft cabin crew on aircraft in operation. “The Hawaii State Plan also applies to state and local government employers”; it does not apply to federal government employers (osha.gov/stateplans/hi).

The Hawaii HazCom rule

Hawaii Administrative Rules §12-60-50(a), which makes 29 CFR Part 1910, “2017 Edition published as of July 1, 2017”, part of HIOSH’s rules (the state amendments in subsections (b) to (d) do not change 1910.1200).

Is the 2024 HazCom update in effect in Hawaii?

“Title 29, Part 1910 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 2017 Edition published as of July 1, 2017, … is made a part of this chapter except as provided in subsections (b) through (d).” — HAR §12-60-50(a) (HIOSH)

Hawaii-specific differences

HRS §396-7, Toxic materials, is a state statute that applies alongside HazCom (HRS §396-7): “All employers shall prominently post information regarding hazards in the employer’s workplace including information about suitable precautions, relevant symptoms, and emergency treatment in case of exposure”, and where possible on or near the hazard (§396-7(b)). Employers must also promptly notify employees exposed above the applicable limits (§396-7(d)). HIOSH also keeps its own air contaminant limits in place of or in addition to 29 CFR 1910.1000 (HAR §12-60-50(d)); these are exposure limits, not HazCom rules.

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 HIOSH. See Tier II reporting in Hawaii.

Other State Plan states

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

Sources (checked October 10, 2026)

• HAR Chapter 12-60 (HIOSH)
• HIOSH: Standards, Administrative Rules Part 2
• HIOSH: Proposed Rules and Legal Notices
• Hawaii Lt. Governor: administrative rules filed, 2026
• Hawaii Lt. Governor: administrative rules filed, 2025
• HRS 396-7
• osha.gov: Hawaii State Plan
• eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.1200(j)
• Federal Register 91 FR 1695 (January 15, 2026)

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

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.