Hazard Communication in South Carolina: SC OSHA and the 2024 HazCom Update

Short answer: Adopted, effective August 23, 2024 (corrections March 28, 2025). Hazard communication in South Carolina is enforced by SC OSHA under South Carolina’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 South Carolina

South Carolina runs its own OSHA-approved State Plan. Workplace hazard communication is enforced by SC OSHA, part of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

SC OSHA “covers private sector and state and local government workplaces in the state”, with exceptions that federal OSHA keeps, including maritime employment (shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring), contractors in U.S. Postal Service mail operations, employment on military bases, private-sector employment at Area D of the Savannah River Site and at the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority, and aircraft cabin crew on aircraft in operation (osha.gov/stateplans/sc).

The South Carolina HazCom rule

S.C. Code Ann. Regs. Chapter 71, Article 1, Subarticle 6 (General Industry), which states it “is identical to the federal regulations contained in 29 CFR 1910” except for listed modifications, none of which concern 1910.1200.

Is the 2024 HazCom update in effect in South Carolina?

“Chapter 71, Article 1, Subarticle 6 was amended by SCSR 48–8 Doc. No. 5279, effective August 23, 2024 … Revisions to Sections 1910.6 and 1910.1200 as amended in Federal Register Volume 89, Number 98, dated Monday, May 20, 2024.” — S.C. Code of Regulations, Chapter 71 (SC Legislative Council)

“amended by SCSR 49–3 Doc. No. 5372, effective March 28, 2025 … Revisions to Section 1910.1200, Hazard Communication Standard, as amended in Federal Register Volume 89, Number 196, dated October 9, 2024” — S.C. Code of Regulations, Chapter 71

The 2026 federal date extension: we could not confirm from an official South Carolina source on October 10, 2026 whether SC OSHA has also adopted federal OSHA’s January 15, 2026 four-month extension of the compliance dates (91 FR 1695). The 2024 rule as first published set July 20, 2026 for employers to update labels, the written program and training for substances, and January 19, 2028 for mixtures; with the extension, the federal dates are November 20, 2026 and May 19, 2028. Ask SC OSHA which date it enforces (contact SC OSHA). The cautious course is to treat the earlier date as already here.

South Carolina-specific differences

We did not find a South Carolina-specific HazCom requirement beyond the federal text: the adoption is identical to 29 CFR 1910.1200. SC OSHA’s own adoption page says only “Standards adoption information is coming soon” (osha.llr.sc.gov).

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 SC OSHA. See Tier II reporting in South Carolina.

Other State Plan states

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

Sources (checked October 10, 2026)

• S.C. Code of Regulations, Chapter 71 (SC Legislative Council)
• osha.gov: South Carolina State Plan
• eCFR: 29 CFR 1910.1200(j)
• Federal Register 91 FR 1695 (January 15, 2026)

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

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.