Hack Your Hazcom
Tired of Hazard Communication headaches? Want to unlock the secrets of safety data sheets and chemical labeling? Then tune in to Hack Your HazCom, the podcast that makes workplace safety clear, concise, and dare we say... interesting. Join us as we dive deep into the world of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard and its international equivalents. We'll break down complex regulations, decode confusing symbols, and equip you with the knowledge you need to protect yourself and your colleagues. Your host, Atanu Das is the owner of SDSWriter, LLC. With an online presence established in 1998, SDSWriter began as a small shop dedicated to freelance authoring of Safety Data Sheets. Initially attracting mostly mom-and-pop type clients, SDSWriter quickly emerged as one of only a handful of web-based companies focused on delivering hazard communication solutions.
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June 20, 2025
From Curiosity to Hazcom: A Unique Career Adventure
In this episode of HYH, we meet Anne DeMasi, a prominent figure in hazard and regulatory compliance. Anne shares her professional journey, which began in the laboratories of Rohm and Haas Company and evolved to her current role as Global Regulatory Manager at Rio Tinto Lithium. The conversation covers her responsibilities, career transitions, and the challenges and changes in the field of hazard communication. Anne also offers insights into effective regulatory management, the importance of scie
Oct. 3, 2025
When the Neighbors Needed to Know
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Corrine Greenberg, an EHS manager at Eckhart America's Louisville facility, discussing her innovative approach to hazard communication at the EHS Summit in Louisville, Kentucky. Corrine shares how she transformed traditional hazard communication (HAZCOM) training into a public-facing course tailored for sensitive populations in the community. Inspired by the 2023 East Palestine train derailment, she developed a multi-part course to educate the
Oct. 28, 2025
Balancing Compliance with Reality
We welcome Manuela Dukeshire, an expert in hazard communication and global SDS authoring with over 16 years of experience. Manuela discusses the complexities and evolving nature of hazard classification and regulatory compliance, emphasizing the importance of staying updated with legislation and engaging with professional societies. She provides practical advice on managing multi-country SDS requirements, aligning different sections of SDS, and the significance of balancing regulations with real
Feb. 13, 2026
The Expert Guide to Fire Risk Management
In this episode, we discuss the scientific and regulatory definitions of flammability and combustibility. Dr. Dastidar details different categories of flammable and combustible liquids based on their flashpoints and boiling points, and explains the classification systems of OSHA, GHS, and NFPA. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding the flashpoint and combustibility of materials in various work environments, the implications of aerosolization, and the potential for spontaneous co
April 23, 2026
Decoding Hazcom Through a Legal Lens
We interview Adele Abrams, an attorney and safety professional at Littler Mendelson, about legal and practical risks facing OSHA/MSHA regulation and HazCom. Abrams explains the Allstates Refractory nondelegation argument—revived by Justices Thomas and Gorsuch—and a new Fifth Circuit case that could invalidate many OSHA rules issued under general rulemaking authority, potentially shrinking the CFR and affecting MSHA similarly, amid a broader Trump-era deregulatory review. She warns that weakening
Recent Episodes
July 7, 2026
The Intersection of Safety and Wellbeing in the Workplace
Host Atanu Das interviews Claire Bryant of the National Safety Council about workplace wellbeing and its connection to workplace and roadway safety. Bryant explains NSC’s wellbeing work began in 2012 with the overdose crisis and now includes fatigue, mental distress, psychological safety, workplace violence, and other psychosocial hazards, emphasizing research showing a strong correlation between wellbeing investments and improved safety outcomes. She discusses gaining organizational buy-in by l
June 5, 2026
Transportation vs. SDS: Finding Harmony in Compliance
Host Atanu Das interviews Ken Sumner of KWS Training, a dangerous goods transportation trainer with 30+ years’ experience, about where OSHA HazCom and DOT transport requirements intersect and frequently conflict. Sumner describes common SDS problems—missing or wrong classifications, mismatch between product form and SDS (powder vs aerosol, solids on ethanol), outdated or un-updated Section 14 entries after reformulation, and confusing or mode-specific exception claims (limited quantity, accepted
May 22, 2026
SDSRP: Building Trust As A Credentialed SDS Author
We welcome Angela Oler and Carrie Johnson from AIHA Registry Programs to discuss the SDS and Label Authoring Registry Program (SDSRP), created to address increasing hazard classification complexity and global GHS implementation. They explain how the credential differentiates authors by independently validating technical competency in hazard classification, regulatory interpretation, and defensible SDS/label decisions, strengthening individual careers and organizational hazard communication progr
May 14, 2026
If You’re Just Hitting ‘Print,’ You’re Doing HazCom Wrong
In this Hack Your Hazcom episode kicking off the show’s second year, Atanu invites audience feedback at hackyourhazcom.com and is joined by labeling experts Steve Donze and Nathan Stellman of Empower Label (formerly Brandywine Drum Labels) to discuss how labeling programs become compliance and safety liabilities. They explain common HazCom breakdowns between requirements and field reality, especially with secondary and small containers that go unlabeled or are illegible, as well as issues with o
April 30, 2026
Unpacking the Fallacy of "Intrinsic" Chemical Hazards
Atanu joins Rob Mitkus, a PhD toxicologist with 25 years’ experience across pesticides, industrial chemicals, vaccine components, medical devices, and consumer products, to discuss how toxicology underpins Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and HazCom/GHS compliance. Rob defines toxicity as harm under specific conditions and emphasizes SDS content and precautions should be evidence-driven and understandable to downstream users including workers, consumers, and first responders. They discuss reliance on an
April 23, 2026
Decoding Hazcom Through a Legal Lens
We interview Adele Abrams, an attorney and safety professional at Littler Mendelson, about legal and practical risks facing OSHA/MSHA regulation and HazCom. Abrams explains the Allstates Refractory nondelegation argument—revived by Justices Thomas and Gorsuch—and a new Fifth Circuit case that could invalidate many OSHA rules issued under general rulemaking authority, potentially shrinking the CFR and affecting MSHA similarly, amid a broader Trump-era deregulatory review. She warns that weakening
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