Managing Your Chemical Inventory, Part 1.” By Brian Wazlaw

What is chemical management?  A chemical management plan identifies, manages, and prevents hazards through all stages of chemical purchasing, storage, use, and disposal.

Who is responsible for managing the chemical inventory?  There are many individuals involved in managing the chemical inventory; all have an important role:

· Teachers – responsible for storing, using, evaluating, disposing, and purchasing of chemicals

· School boards -  establishing as policy a Chemical Hygiene Plan developed by the science teachers

· Superintendents –  creating a budget line item for safety ensuring science safety is a priority

· Business manager—establishing procedures that allow for the purchase of chemicals throughout the year (no budget freezes)

· Facilities manager – disposing of waste by a licensed waste hauler providing a facility for the safe storage of the chemical inventory

· Principal—a safety advocate for the school providing time for teachers to manage the chemical inventory.  “Science safety is a priority in our school.”                          

How do I assess the current condition of the chemical inventory?  Before you can effectively manage your chemical inventory, you need to assess the current status of your chemical inventory and your chemical bunker. A safety pre-screening will identify imminent hazards such as, sagging / damaged shelves, sources of ignition, obstructed aisles, inaccessible shelves, corroded or unstable containers, incompatible grouping of chemicals, availability of MSDS sheets and an inventory, and the condition of the storage area.  Go to NHSTA . net. Locate the safety link for Managing Your Chemical Inventory  - “Safety Prescreen Inspection Sheet.”

Conducting a chemical inventory  will always produce many surprises: 

· chemicals you never thought you had

· chemicals in damaged containers

·  chemicals in poorly labeled containers

·  chemicals in containers without labels

· hazardous chemicals/ unstable chemicals

· chemicals that are toxic

· chemicals in need of special handling

· chemicals that are never used

· chemicals that are seldom used

· chemicals in excessive quantities

· chemicals in large containers

     If the pre-screening determines that it will be unsafe to conduct a chemical inventory due to existing hazards, a trained professional should be contacted to remove any hazardous chemicals and correct any unsafe conditions.

     Once it is established that it is safe to conduct the inventory, the process can begin. Your team should establish a plan for conducting the inventory.

     Go to NHSTA. net. Locate the safety link for Managing Your Chemical Inventory  - “Inventory Protocol”,  “Management Systems Assessment”)

How do I create an accurate chemical inventory  After the Inventory Protocol and the Systems Assessment have been reviewed, the inventory can begin.

     Your team will need to record the following information for each chemical; the list should be modified according to your needs.

     You will need to select an inventory system (a data base or spreadsheet that contains a wealth of information on each one of your chemicals; inventory systems are available from your vendor or see the note at the end for a copy of a chemical inventory spreadsheet).

· Name of the chemical

· Type of container

· Concentration, molarity

· Estimated quantity

· Location of container

· Note if the chemical will remain in the inventory

· Note if the chemical will be disposed

· Develop a list of chemicals for disposal

Once the inventory is complete, the information should be entered into your inventory program. The chemicals can than be reviewed for health ratings, flammable ratings, toxicity, corrosiveness, and special hazards.

How should the chemicals be organized?  Before organizing your chemicals, your shelving needs to be inspected.  Check that your shelving is solid and sturdy and securely attached to the wall. Inspect shelving and shelving supports for corrosion, sagging, and cracking. Each shelf should have a front lip to prevent a chemical from sliding off the shelf.
     All your chemicals need to be placed in compatibility groups. A suggested arrangement for storing your chemicals is the NIOSH system, also known as the Flinn system. The system allows chemicals to be placed into safe compatibility groups. Refer to NHSTA.net. Locate the safety link – Managing Your Chemical Inventory -  “Compatibility Groups and Shelf Patterns.”

Yes, you need an MSDS sheet for each chemical in your inventory.  A  Material Safety Data Sheet is the standard document available for every hazardous chemical manufactured or sold in the United States. It contains information in a specific format so science teachers, emergency personnel, and other users can find needed information. Every chemical in your inventory must have an MSDS sheet.

     When chemicals are ordered, an MSDS sheet needs to accompany the order. The shipment must have an MSDS sheet to be accepted. Everyday items, such as, baking soda, vinegar, ammonia water, etc., if part of your inventory, require an MSDS sheet.

     Under Chapter 277-A “Workers Right to Know Act” (Toxic Substances in the Workplace), MSDS sheets are required for each chemical in your inventory.  In addition, under the law, you must provide your local fire department with copies of your MSDS sheets and inventory.

     Just a reminder. Generally, textbooks, laboratory manuals, and other instructional materials designate the safety precautions needed for a particular laboratory activity. However, total reliance on such publications to provide complete and accurate information is not advisable. Teachers need to first consult the MSDS sheet and other references before undertaking an unfamiliar or familiar activity.  Go to the NHSTA.net. Locate the safety link - MSDS Sheet Information.

Chemical Inventory System.  If you need a copy of a chemical inventory system, please send an e–mail to bwazlaw@sau16.org.  The inventory contains a wealth of information. The format is an Excel spreadsheet.

Additional Information.  For additional information, please feel free to contact:

Brian Wazlaw, Ed.D, Laboratory Safety Officer

Exeter Region Cooperative School District

Exeter, NH 03833.  Bwazlaw@sau16.org