Workplace Warning

A workplace warning is a Proposition 65 safe harbour warning provided to employees who may be exposed to listed chemicals in their work environment. Under Title 27 CCR §§25606–25606.7, employers must provide Proposition 65 warnings for workplace exposures to listed chemicals above safe harbour levels. Workplace warnings may be provided through: employee notification (written notice, collective bargaining agreement, or training); posting of signs in the exposure area; including warning information in safety data sheets (SDS); or labelling of containers or equipment. Workplace warnings are distinct from consumer product warnings.

Title 27 CCR §§25606–25606.7 (workplace warning safe harbour); California Health & Safety Code §25249.6.

Employers with California operations must assess whether occupational exposures to Proposition 65-listed chemicals in their facilities exceed applicable NSRLs or MADLs. Common workplace exposure sources include: solvents, cleaning chemicals, metal-working fluids, manufacturing process chemicals, and diesel exhaust. Cal/OSHA requirements for SDS and hazard communication overlap significantly with Proposition 65 workplace warning obligations, allowing integrated compliance approaches. However, Proposition 65 thresholds are often more stringent than Cal/OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).