Page 73 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

this field. While proper training is necessary from the Hazard Communication Standard, unclear directions can still occur while assigning tasks and a lack of monitoring can cause po- tential issues. This was the issue with California State Univer- sity, where employees and students handling chemicals were exposed to harmful materials. Unfortunately, problems like this are magnified when working with larger teams of employees who handle more dangerous chemicals on a daily basis—and results can be deadly.
Companies Turn to Digitized Solutions
In November of 2017, a disastrous explosion and fire erupted in a cosmetics factory, injuring 30 and killing one. While exact causes are unknown, it is believed that the facility had been breaking guidelines set by OSHA, because it had multiple citations in the past five years of operation. Inventory management as well as em- ployee safety and communication had been lacking and resulted in fines for the company and could have been the cause of the unfor- tunate tragedy that resulted.
To avoid workplace injury and disaster, more companies in this industry are turning to digitized chemical management solutions. With this comprehensive technology, all hazard communications are made available through a single repository, and the most up- to-date SDSs can be instantly accessed wherever you are. Investing in a digital system allows you to keep track of communications and compliance. SDS systems are beneficial for a variety of reasons, in-
cluding saving time and money and creating better sustainability initiatives within a company.
Chemical management software enables companies to stay up to date with labeling obligations and other hazard communication regulations. Updated labeling and SDSs mean that your employees can continue to stay compliant, as well as safe.
In addition, chemical management software can help open communications between employees with customized task assign- ing. Knowing exactly what employees are assigned to do can help break down any communication barriers. And with task assign- ment software, you can even track the progress of any given project from beginning to completion.
Furthermore, bringing this technology to mobile devices can enable chemical management anywhere and at any time, with fea- tures such as Quick Response Code technology and offline capabil- ities. Integrating mobile into your company workflow connects you with your employees and gives them the power to make teamwide contributions wherever their work takes them.
Keeping your employees safe at work can be challenging, es- pecially when working with dangerous chemicals. But following guidelines, staying compliant, and having open and clear com- munications with your workers though chemical management technology not only makes that job easier, but also keeps your staff members secure.
John Kincaid is a Gensuite Content Marketing Associate.
CORPORATE PROFILE
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