Issue 19, June 2006

Employers have a responsibility to protect their employees.  You cannot do this without accurate knowledge of the chemicals you have and their associated risks. An effective chemical inventory system is an essential starting point to you managing your chemical risks.

This system will also allow you to re-evaluate the Hazardous and Dangerous Goods Classifications and check that your chemicals are stored and labelled in accordance with 2006 ADG standards. For instance, many chemicals have particular storage requirements or limits on the amount that can be stored without permits. Furthermore, many chemicals are now considered toxic or potentially carcinogenic that, in the past, may have been considered merely irritants. The Risk and Health information available for particular chemicals is constantly being revised and updated. By creating a catalogue you have the tools in place to maintain up to date records and incorporate today’s standards.

In the event of an accident or emergency situation, the database can quickly provide information about the relevant chemical/s, as well as exact quantities stored and suitable treatment, if required.  In the event of a fire, the database can also provide information to HAZMAT or the Fire Brigade about other chemicals stored in the area and the amount of chemicals stored.  

To Avoid Waste and Minimise Costs
Without an accurate inventory system, it is common that different groups in your organisation may purchase and store the same chemical, resulting in unnecessary purchases and storage costs and delays in waiting for these new supplies to arrive.  If the database is accurate and user-friendly, it makes it easy to determine if you have a chemical in stock, as well as the exact location of a chemical, thus minimising time spent on searching for a specific chemical.

Evaluation of Assets
It is important for your organisation to have an up to date, accurate record of your assets.  Many chemicals are expensive and they need to  be included in business or insurance valuations.  By creating a database of all chemicals this will allow you to review the quantities required, adjust the amount of chemicals routinely ordered and stored accordingly and eliminate unwanted chemicals.

Is your organisation changing, relocating or undergoing a major refurbishment or demolition?

• If your organisation or business is moving, it is crucial to have all the details and safety information for the chemicals readily available. The National Standard for the Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods has particular transport requirements for Hazardous Substances, so preparing an accurate database will reduce your business risk.

• Winding up or selling a business: A database may provide the opportunity to value the chemical resources owned by an organisation. This value may be important when negotiating sale of a business or sale of chemicals that are no longer required by the organisation.

• Demolition of a building: Prior to demolition of a building, it is crucial to determine what chemicals were being used and the quantity of chemicals used or stored. Additional safety requirements may be necessary.

How Cetec can help you to catalogue your chemicals

• Cetec catalogues chemicals within an organisation using the available or your chosen database. In smaller sized organisations, or those with a limited number of chemicals, a simpler inventory system would be sufficient.

• Using your guidelines, Cetec designates different locations within your organisation. This allows you to differentiate between stock and research chemicals, chemicals belonging to different groups and allow for separate rooms or cupboards for chemicals with different dangerous goods classifications.

• Cetec can individually label every item within the inventory.

• Your new labels include safety information that may not be included on the manufacturer’s label. Older labels may not have DG classes, risk and safety instructions or CAS numbers.

• We can train your staff in use of database. This is vital as a database needs to remain accurate to realise the full value of the asset.

• Cetec catalogues chemicals into the correct Dangerous Goods Class, making sure incompatible chemicals are segregated and stored in a suitable area.

• MSDS’s are required as a matter of course in any research or industrial organisation where chemicals are used or stored.  MSDS's can be linked to your database, providing “ready-reference” safety information.

For more information on how Cetec can help you, please contact Adam Garnys.

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