Right-to-Know

The principle that workers and communities are entitled to know what hazardous chemicals they may be exposed to.

Right-to-Know runs through both major chemical disclosure frameworks. Community right-to-know is EPCRA, giving the public and emergency responders access to facility chemical inventories. Employee right-to-know is OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, giving workers access to hazard information.

Several states operate their own right-to-know laws that go further than the federal baseline, with their own chemical lists and reporting.

Related terms

• EPCRAThe 1986 federal law requiring facilities to report the hazardous chemicals they store so communities and responders know what is there.
• HazComOSHA's standard requiring that chemical hazards be classified, labelled, documented and communicated to workers.
• Safety Data SheetThe 16-section document a manufacturer must supply describing a hazardous chemical's hazards, handling and properties.

A plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Figures are the federal baseline; your state may differ, so see the state-by-state requirements.