Page 57 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2018

Reconcile the list of materials from the inventory (including the chemical area, manufacturers, and product codes) with the SDS collection to see what products need an SDS.
Maintain Vendor Relationships
After an inventory, most companies find products that don’t have an SDS on record. The list of materials, manufacturers, and product codes collected during the inventory is the starting point for acquiring an SDS. SDSs can be found in different ways:
■ Web search
■ Manufacturer website
■ Contacting the manufacturer by phone or email
When requesting an SDS, it is important to have the right in-
formation so that the SDS you receive accurately matches your product. SiteHawk recommends that you collect, at a minimum, the following from the product label:
■ Product name
■ Manufacturer name
■ Product code
■ Barcode/UPC
Some products look similar and may have a differently colored
labels or similar subtitles, such as “Technical Grade” versus “Pro- fessional Grade.” The more information you can collect, the better.
Review Company EHS Goals with Vendors
Whether it’s a chemical company or the EHS software partner, review your goals with them so that they can improve the data they include on SDSs or the functions in the software you use.
Ongoing Maintenance
Hiring an SDS and chemical data management company and assuming that everything will be done (as if by magic) is similar to thinking that getting a gym membership without going makes a healthier person. In both cases, the more effort given, the more satisfied one will be. Here are some tips for ongoing chemical data maintenance and compliance health
■ Institute a chemical approval process. A chemical approval process helps maintain upstream and downstream communication about what is arriving on site. Preventing the purchase or use of restricted materials on site begins with a chemical approval process that is supported and promoted from the top of an organization. This process also ensures that the correct documents and associat- ed paperwork are on site with materials, driving risk management to avoid fines and confusion.
■ Ask questions. If you are unclear about the SDSs you re- ceive, ask the vendor or supplier. Vendors are working diligently to comply with the new regulations and provide documents in a timely manner. Like you, they experience challenges with the GHS transition.
Questions to Consider:
1. What has changed from the previous version of this SDS? (Although Section 16 on an SDS should indicate changes, not all of them may be represented.)
2. What products (product codes) does this SDS cover?
3. Does this SDS reflect more or fewer products than the previ- ous version?
4. Is this GHS (OSHA 2012, WHMIS 2015, etc.) compliant?
5. How often do you update product SDSs? (Some companies update quarterly or when regulatory or formula changes are made.)
Submit All SDSs to Your SDS Management Company
When using SDS management software, submit all SDSs every time you receive them. This keeps your collection up to date and helps maintain efficient reporting in your organization.
Leveraging these tips, you can mitigate GHS challenges, educate your workers, and provide safe and compliant workplaces to protect your employees, products, and surrounding communities.
David Williams is Vice President, Industry & Innovation for SiteHawk. Combining more than 20 years of software industry experience and the passion for creating world-class products, Wil- liams has successfully designed and delivered products for compa- nies including Bridgestone/Firestone, MSN, and Google. During a career centered on the distribution of vital content for business, he was critical for bringing one of the first SaaS solutions for manag- ing content for digital billboards used for public information and advertising. Currently, he is responsible for leading the innova- tion and evolution of SiteHawk products, which are focused on the collection, interpretation, and distribution of data critical to the EH&S industry.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_ rev07/English/ST_SG_AC10_30_Rev7e.pdf
www.ohsonline.com
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