The following is Part 2 of the series - “Managing Your Chemical Inventory”.

The Three Rs of Chemical Management

 Besides creating an accurate inventory of the chemicals that will remain in your inventory and identifying the chemicals in your inventory for disposal, you need to consider the three Rs of chemical management- reduce, reduce, reduce.

Maintaining small and limited quantities of chemicals will promote the prudent and effective management of your inventory.

  How do I develop a plan to maintain small and limited quantities of chemicals?

  1.  Purchasing Chemicals

  Your district needs to consider a Purchasing Plan. The plan needs to include two essential components. The first component, only purchase chemicals in quantities that will be consumed during the current school year with any remaining quantities (hopefully a minimal amount) to be consumed the following year.

   The second component is the method to accomplish this -  “Just in Time Purchasing”. Chemicals are purchased at a variety of times during the year when needed and in quantities needed for the particular activities. This method limits the quantities in storage and eliminates excessive quantities of chemicals. The following is a plan for chemical procurement:

     A. Determining Chemicals Needed By Program

            1. From your program, review the list of student   

                activities

            2. What activities will require the use of chemicals?

            3. What chemicals will be required for the activities?

            4. Is the chemical appropriate for students?  (assess    

               the hazards)

      B. Determining the Quantities Needed

1.  By discipline (chemistry, biology, physical  science, technology), grade level, review the quantity of the required chemicals that are currently in the inventory.

2.  By discipline (chemistry, biology, physical science, technology), grade level, determine the chemicals needed for the school year based on the quantities required and the quantities available in the current inventory.

      3.  Chemicals should be purchased by “Just In Time” procedures. At times, based on a particular need, some chemicals may be purchased    
         quarterly.

        4.  Generally, attempt to restrict the quantity (solids) to a container of 500 g. If larger quantity containers are requested, a reason should be

            provided.       

5.  Restrict the quantity of a solution to a 500 mL container or a 1 L container.     

  6.  All concentrated acids should not exceed 1 L size containers. All acids should be purchased “Just In Time” as needed throughout the year.

7.  Concentrated ammonium hydroxide should not exceed a 500 mL container.

8.    Flammables should be purchased “Just In Time” through out the year.

C.   Processing Requests

1.    Chemicals on the “Acceptable Chemical List” are the only chemicals that can be purchased. (All districts should develop an “Acceptable Chemical List”)

2.    All chemicals need to be assessed for hazards. (ex. TLV, PEL, hazard level, toxicity, LD 50, LC 50, possible carcinogen)

2.  Introducing New Laboratory Activities

        Introducing new laboratory activities to your science curriculum needs to be a prudent and thoughtful process, particularly when chemicals will be used.  Any chemicals that are not part of your “Acceptable Chemical List” need to be reviewed. This will hopefully prevent purchasing chemicals that are hazardous, seldom used, or never used.

    A list of acceptable chemicals should be developed for use in the classroom.  The decision to use a new chemical will be based on the best available knowledge of the hazards of the substance and the availability of proper handling facilities and equipment.

    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 should consult additional references, including Material Safety Data Sheets, before undertaking an unfamiliar activity.

 The following should be considered:

            a. Use of the chemical is pedagogically sound

            b. Use of the substance is an effective method to  illustrate an important process, property, or concept.

            c. Adequate safeguards are in place to assure proper use of the substance

            d. Exposure time of the employees and students to the substance

            e. Permissible exposure limit and threshold limit value of the substance are acceptable

            f.  Hazards both chemical and physical have been reviewed 

   How Do I Manage and Control the Chemical Storage Bunker?

     For effective management and control of your chemical inventory, you need a plan for accessing and accounting for the chemicals in your chemical storage bunker. The need is to control the following situations:

             A.  Establishing who has access to the bunker    

  Who has access to the chemical bunker is always a dilemma. Knowledge of the chemicals, shelve patterns, compatibility groups, spill procedures, safety equipment, acid/base storage, flammable storage, location of MSDS sheets, the return of reagents, and the recording of the usage and consumption of the chemicals should be considered prerequisites for “accessing chemicals” in the bunker.

   Lack of knowledge and procedures will result in the inability to locate chemicals, account for chemicals, and determine the consumption and rate of use of the chemicals.

             B.  Maintaining a, safe, clean, and organized bunker

                   The bunker needs to be monitored weekly. For example, can I account for the chemicals?  Has the consumption of the chemicals been

                  recorded? Are chemicals returned to the shelves? Are the chemicals located in the correct compatibility groups? Are the aisles clear?

                  Are copies of the MSDS sheets and the chemical inventory available? Did I inspect the spill kit and eyewash/deluge shower?

            C.  Preventing chemicals from being removed from the bunker to the classroom

                   You need to avoid the “Chemical Quiz Game” - Where is the chemical?, Who has the chemical? and What quantity remains? Reagent containers should remain in the bunker NEVER in the classroom. Student bottles and demo bottles should be prepared in the bunker prep room or in another designated area. Upon completing the preparation of the student and demo bottles, the reagent containers need to be returned to the chemical storage bunker. Student bottles and demo bottles need to be returned to the chemical storage bunker after the laboratory activity is completed.

     How Do I Track the Chemicals?

   The first objective is to control the reagent containers; as stated above, they are to remain in the bunker NOT in the classroom. The second  objective is to determine the consumption of the chemical. This can be accomplished by recording the quantities consumed on a clipboard in the

   bunker or on a spreadsheet. As the need for additional quantities of chemicals is determined by the activities, ordering chemicals should  follow “Just In Time” purchasing procedures.

    Relevant Information  on Chemical Management

       For a copy of a Chemical Procurement Plan, go to  www.NHSTA.net and locate the safety link.

      For a copy of  New Laboratory Activities – Prior Approval Standard, e-mail  bwazlaw@sau16.org.

     Additional Information

        For additional information, please feel free to contact:

                Brian Wazlaw, Ed.D.

                Laboratory Safety Officer

                Exeter Region Cooperative School District

                Linden St.

                Exeter, NH 03833

                bwazlaw@sau16.org