Page 46 - Occupational Health & Safety, January/February 2019

IH/CHEMICAL SAFETY
The Three Keys to Effective Chemical Management
Although it can seem overwhelming at times, an effective chemical management program is paramount to an effective EHS program. Gaining a deep understanding of chemicals on site and what they are used for is the first step toward success. BY MATT ADAMS
Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) pro- fessionals are at the forefront of maintaining visibility and mitigating risk in a business environment that is changing faster than
ever before. As organizations adapt to take advan- tage of new opportunities and remain competitive, they must account for the change that occurs in their risk profiles. In EHS and product stewardship, this means new processes, new ingredients, new compli- ance obligations, and changing job responsibilities. Whether it’s in the supply chain, during operations, during the delivery of services, or during the end use of a product, there is ongoing risk surrounding the use, storage, and data management of chemicals. Be- ing able to identify risks, handle them accordingly, and be proactive is vital to protect the organization, its employees, the public, and the environment. This
article is intended to provide three principles and ac- companying guidelines to help any organization ef- fectively mitigate the ever-changing risks associated with chemical management.
Be Informed
When it comes to mitigating risk, knowing is half the battle. It’s important to understand which chemicals are on site throughout each operating location and understand what those chemicals are used for and the hazards/compliance requirements associated with using them.
Determining which chemicals are on site is gener- ally done by tracking new chemicals as they come in and performing periodic inventories. The more orga- nized the data, the easier it is to understand and main- tain the inventory. Organizations often segment op- erating facilities into chemical areas and manage the inventories area-by-area, thus allowing them to roll up into a general facility-wide inventory. Along with these inventories, it is necessary to maintain an up- to-date copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical. Solutions to organize and maintain a chem- ical inventory and the respective SDS that goes along with each chemical can vary from manual methods to full-service electronic options. Utilizing technol- ogy and automated systems can save time and money. Some solutions also include services to update SDSs, enabling employees to focus on their area of expertise.
Identifying what chemicals are used for is impor- tant, as well. Chemicals used in processes need to be considered in training, risk assessments, and PPE requirements. Over time, organizations tend to store chemicals that may have been used only for a one- time purpose or process that has since changed or been eliminated. Safely disposing of all excess chemi- cals can reduce the time and effort spent on inventory maintenance and compliance tasks.
It is crucial to consider any compliance require- ments when understanding an organization’s chemi- cal management obligations. There are chemical-fo- cused requirements pertaining largely to safety, such as HazCom and REACH, but there are also chemical requirements that could potentially overlap with other areas of responsibility in the organization. For exam- ple, consider chemicals of interest for the Department of Homeland Security or environmental-specific re-
40 Occupational Health & Safety | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
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