Page 36 - Occupational Health & Safety, January 2018

CHEMICAL SAFETY/SDS
A significant advantage of an online document workflow is the opportunity for dynamic response and action. In a dynamic form, the questions and fields can change based on the previous answers, whether in terms of data input or on the unique requirements of your process itself.
For companies that choose to employ technology for their chemical management, you’ll find that most leading SDS manage- ment and chemical management software systems have some level of chemical-ap- proval functionality. As you assess the op- tions available on the EHS market, evaluate the strength of those systems to account for the needs of your unique facility or orga- nization. Is the system under consideration flexible or customizable enough to support your particular requirements, whether by reflecting existing criteria or dynamically responding to emerging needs? Does it give you the information you and your approv- ers need? Is it scalable? Does it automate the process adequately?
Perhaps most importantly, once a chemical is approved, an automated system associates the correct SDS to that chemi- cal, making vital safety information im- mediately available and ensuring you have required documentation readily at hand during a regulatory inspection or when- ever you perform a compliance spot check on your physical inventory.
There are significant time-saving and cost-efficiency benefits to implementing an online chemical approval workflow. From responsive forms with pre-populated fields to dynamic customization where the pro- cess itself can evolve based on the chemical or prior approval steps, a technology solu- tion beyond the static Excel spreadsheet can move an organization from mere re- cordkeeping to true chemical intelligence.
Take advantage of the power of software to automate your chemical approval process and let the system do the work for you.
Switching to an online workflow should streamline your administrative efforts, not make them more complex. Take advantage of the power of software to automate your chemical approval process and let the sys- tem do the work for you.
Kraig Haberer is a General Manager for HSI, an EHS software and services provider offering solutions for workplace safety train- ing, chemical management, incident man- agement and emergency care training and certification.
process developed by the safety team. Again, the entire process can either be vir- tual, through the use of software and online workflow tools, or physical, where indi- viduals physically pass a paper document around for sign-off or via email.
A significant advantage of an online document workflow is the opportunity for dynamic response and action. In a dy- namic form, the questions and fields can change based on the previous answers, whether in terms of data input or on the unique requirements of your process itself. For example, online forms can dynami- cally expand or contract depending on the hazardous nature of the material. A form to approve more hazardous materials might include more fields, while safer chemicals may be adequately covered by a much shorter form.
Dependent on the data entered into the form, some systems allow for pre- populating fields with information already available, such as cross-referencing a mate- rial and its ingredients against banned sub- stances or other regulatory lists.
Your chemical approval form should in- clude any type of data or question that you feel is important to answer when introduc- ing a new chemical to your facility. Safety, environmental, and company-specific data points can be included, and your form can be as brief or exhaustive as you see fit.
What are some of the fields commonly included on a chemical approval form?
■ Material name
■ Person/department requesting the chemical
nature (e.g., extremely low flash point, etc.) - Disposal considerations
■ Compliance data
- Ingredient data
- GHS hazard statements
- Regulatory cross-references to
determine whether the chemical exists on any state or federal regulatory lists
- Internal banned substance lists
As you strategize your chemical approval process, look for ways to get the most return for the time spent by your submitters and reviewers.
What to Look for in a Chemical Approval Process
As you strategize your chemical approval process, look for ways to get the most re- turn for the time spent by your submitters and reviewers. When workers submit a chemical for approval, is there an easy or automatic way for them to know immedi- ately whether that chemical already exists in your system, either at their facility or at a corporate level? As reviewers consider the new chemical request, does your pro- cess enable them to quickly correct errors or add any missing information? Are there criteria such as chemical type or quantity thresholds that can trigger an automatic approval or rejection?
Once it is determined that the re- quested new chemical requires review by your approvers, consider the trans- parency of your workflow. The ability to track who is reviewing, seeing at a glance the real-time status of the request, and receiving prompt notification of approval or rejection can significantly streamline report generation. A technology solution that can automatically flag any roadblock on the way to approval allows the process owner to proactively intervene to ensure each approval request is brought to a timely conclusion.
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tions
Quantity
Date requested
Intended use of the chemical Location of the material Safety data sheet
Safety data
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Special handling or use instruc-
Exposure limits
PPE requirements
Physical properties of a critical