415Chemical Inventory Management Example Policy
Scope
The management and control of chemicals is the responsibility of everyone involved in the
acquisition, use, and disposition of them. Your employer has a responsibility to comply
with a myriad of federal, state, and local regulations covering chemical purchase, use,
transportation, storage, emergency planning, and disposal.
To satisfy this obligation, your employer has implemented a comprehensive Chemical
Management System that includes up to date inventories of laboratory chemicals.
The following policies and procedures for chemical inventory control are designed to help
users understand and meet the above responsibilities and requirements. The procedures
cannot be designed to cover every situation.
The system allows for flexibility provided that there is PRIOR coordination with the
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office. All chemical users must comply, and are
urged to provide suggestions to assist in continuously improving these procedures.
Objectives
The goals of our system are to:
Ensure that chemicals are properly identified in the records of your employer and
that pertinent health, safety, and other information regarding each item in the
inventory is readily available and accessible.
Facilitate the physical inventory of chemicals through maintenance of a standard
numbering system (bar coded tag) and an automated chemical inventory system.
Minimize waste generation and control waste disposal costs.
Facilitate budget preparation and planning by maintaining information on usage
patterns, age, shelf-life, and cost.
Minimize the number and amount of chemicals stored throughout the facility.
Develop accountability procedures to comply with federal, state, and local laws
governing purchases, storage, transportation, use, emergency planning, and
disposal of the chemicals used at your place of employment.
The benefits of meeting our Chemical Management goals are reduced purchasing and
disposal costs, regulatory compliance, and a safe and healthy environment for students,
faculty, and staff.
Overview
Your employer has implemented a computerized Chemical Inventory System to provide a
perpetual inventory record of all chemicals located in the Division. The components of the
system are shown in figure 1. All chemical purchases are made through the EHS Office.
Users place chemical orders on a special three-part Chemical Requisition Form.
The form can be mailed or hand carried to the EHS Office. The EHS Coordinator evaluates
and approves the chemical order after checking available stock. Next, the requisition form
goes to the Purchasing Department and an order is placed with the specified vendor.