Environmental Health & Safety

Chemical Inventory Program

Overview

The Chemical Inventory Program exists to provide a readily available and accurate accounting of the chemicals and hazardous substances regulated by federal, state, and local agencies. Researchers to inventory chemicals within the laboratory can also use the program.

Regulatory Element

TSRI is driven by regulatory requirements to track and control all hazardous chemicals used or stored at our facilities. From the regulatory standpoint, TSRI must control the hazards posed by these chemicals and protect our employees from over exposure and we must provide both the city and county an accurate inventory each time we apply for a building permit on both new construction and tenant improvements. These inventories are required in great detail.

1. Receiving
   The inventory will be operating with a bar code system designed especially for TSRI. EH&S will be bar coding chemicals and assigning them to lab inventories as they come into Shipping and Receiving. The chemicals will be deleted from an inventory when the bar code is returned to safety and scanned out.
   
   
2. Placement of Bar codes on items packed in secondary containment
   EH&S will not break secondary containment seals or packaging. When the secondary containment package is opened in the laboratory, simply peel the bar code from the secondary containment package and reapply it to the chemical container. The bar code can be removed and reapplied easily because of its double laminated design. For frozen or refrigerated chemicals, wipe any condensation off the surface before applying the bar code.
   
   
3. Scanning Chemicals Out of the Chemical Inventory System
   Remove the bar code from container and reapply it on a provided collection form. Please place the bar codes in such a manner that they may be easily scanned; do not overlap bar codes. In the event the bar code is destroyed, enter its number on the paper. The number is located directly under the bar code. Dispose of the container according to your standard procedure. Acutely and extremely hazardous (P listed chemicals) cannot be thrown in trash but must be turned in as hazardous waste.
   
   
4. Bar Coding of Chemicals Currently in Laboratories
   It is imperative to have all designated TSRI chemicals bar coded for the chemical inventory system to be effective. Therefore, EH&S will be bar coding chemicals that are currently in the laboratories. We will attempt to make this new process as convenient as possible for all involved and EH&S will make appointments with the laboratory Safety Officers prior to commencement of any work. This will be a slow process and bar coded chemicals will arrive in labs prior to completion of this inventory. These bar codes will need to be removed and returned to EH&S as the chemicals are used. Labs will need to continue to keep their own inventory until this process is completed.
   
   
5. Housekeeping Department
   Although the laboratories will be removing the bar codes from empty chemical bottles, it will be extremely helpful for the Housekeeping Department to be an extra set of "eyes" for missed bar codes. When picking up empty chemical containers from the hallways, please remove any bar codes left on empty containers and apply them to the provided collection sheet so the chemical may be scanned out of the inventory.

In Closing

Although the Chemical Inventory Program is designed to allow EH&S staff to take control of the entire inventory process from chemical receipt to disposal, it cannot operate at full capacity without minor involvement of laboratory personnel. The accuracy and usefulness of the inventory will depend on the efforts of the EH&S staff in assigning chemicals bar codes at receiving, doing the physical inventory, and on laboratory staff removing the bar codes and returning them to EH&S.