Performing a routine inventory can provide the following advantages: Check to make sure that dangerous materials are being stored properly and securely. Take away any items that have expired or are no longer in use. Determine which products can be replaced with safer versions. Determine the locations required for the municipal fire plan and emergency response procedures. obey environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS) laws. meet the criteria of an integrated management system (e.g., ISO, COR, or other auditing requirements). For the yearly National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) and other regulatory dangerous chemical or emissions reports, collect usage and waste data. Other chemical safety-related goods, such as safety data sheets (SDS), personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency spill response materials, might be inventoried during preparation. Determine whether the workers' training is appropriate for the products available.
How should a chemical or product inventory be conducted generally?
Create a sensible plan. It is helpful to have a floor plan when conducting an inventory so that you can indicate the locations of any chemicals or goods that are being utilized or kept. Establish a route to take so that no items or destinations are overlooked. A team of two people should ideally do the inventory (one can write and the other can handle the products if needed). Wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required in the location you will be inspecting while keeping in mind the particulars of that region. Prior to taking an inventory: Has a channel been established for communication in the event of an issue (such as exposure, spill, breakage, fire, etc.)? Are there any spill response tools available? Are they suitable for the intended items to be discovered? Can I review the manufacturer's safe use instructions (for consumer products) or safety data sheets (SDS)? Are they up to date for the goods being used and purchased? Do members of the team know how to handle any ""unknown"" products they may come across? Do team members know what to do if they come across a potentially dangerous situation? Do team members know how to use emergency tools like deluge showers and eyewash stations? Does the crew have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling the products? Wear proper chemical-resistant materials for your respirators, gloves, eye protection (glasses, goggles, face shields), clothes (aprons, coveralls), and foot protection (safety shoes, boots).
What actions should be taken during the inventory?
Notify the manager or supervisor of the area where you are completing the inventory when conducting it. The areas where the products are utilized and stored should be marked. Search every location for things that might be kept somewhere they shouldn't be. Make sure the inventory team is aware of the potential scenarios, how to recognize when a situation might be an emergency, and what to do in such a situation. Put on the proper PPE. Make sure the ventilation is working properly before you enter any rooms or storage spaces. Verify that there are no ignition sources (flames, pilot lights, etc.) in the area. Learn how to call 911 if you are exposed or come across a spill, leak, or damaged container.
When taking an inventory, what should you avoid doing?
During the inventory, AVOID needless handling of the goods. Unless a procedure for the storage and removal of hazardous wastes is in place, DO NOT remove products for disposal. The product should be marked and removed in a secure manner. Unless you discover things that are incorrectly stored and need quick attention, DO NOT reshuffle the containers (e.g., flammables near an ignition source, incompatible materials stored near each other, etc.). If you are not trained to clean up a spill or leak, DON'T. Follow the emergency notification protocol at work if you come across a situation that needs to be handled right away, such as a spill, leak, or the presence of ignition sources.
What details need to be written down?
Your information requirements will be unique to your place of employment, but generally speaking, you should record: Name and specific identification of all chemicals, materials, and products used in the workplace, including consumer goods (such as the product code or CAS number*) (such as cleaning products, lubricants and pest control products sold in retail stores) Quantity, which includes the size and number of containers, the quantity still inside each container, etc. Be as accurate as you can. locations of the products used around your business. You could decide to document: Name of the maker/supplier Hazard Classification (flammable, corrosive, toxic, etc) (flammable, corrosive, toxic, etc.) Classification physical condition (solid, liquid, gas under pressure, etc.) Whatever quantity or kind of garbage is present hazard-filled circumstances, such as: containers that are not appropriately labeled (for example, those for WHMIS or consumer goods) Poorly maintained tanks, spaces, storage containers, etc. storing things that aren't compatible together expired merchandise broken or disconnected grounding wires improper spill containment (e.g., the spill containment pit, raised berm, or pallet has less available volume than the quantity of liquid product being stored there) shabby housekeeping (cluttered storage, slip-trip-fall-risks). Each product has an SDS available. CAS stands for Chemical Abstracts Service, a service from the United States that assigns a unique number to each pure chemical. CAS numbers are used worldwide.
How is the inventory maintained?
An essential aspect of the inventory is its maintenance over time. Products must be entered or quantities be updated as the products arrive or are used. If there are several persons in charge of purchasing products, implement a communication or updating system so that all products are inventoried in a centralized system. This system will ensure that those in charge of hazard information are informed about the presence of the product. If the inventory database is digital and accessible to all workers, it can even be used to link directly to digital SDS files for easy reference. New products may need to be evaluated for safety and environmental impacts before final approval or rejection. Obsolete or rejected products may still be present in the workplace pending safe disposal. The inventory form can be used to record a product’s current status (under review, approved, rejected, obsolete, waste, etc.) and flag it for further action.
What is an example of a chemical or product inventory form?
Determine the level of detail needed for your workplace. Customize this form accordingly. Chemical or Product Inventory Form - Example Inventory Date (MM/DD/YYYY) and Time (start – end): Location or Building Name: Inventory completed by: Chemical or Product Name and Manufacturer CAS # Quantity (number, volume, etc.) Use / Process Storage Location SDS on file? Status Other Comments (Adapted From: Implementing a Chemical Safety Program, CCOHS""" - https://www.affordablecebu.com/
