Frequently Asked Questions
Chemical Inventory

Are chemical inventories required for laboratories?

Yes, a chemical inventory should be readily accessible to all laboratory personnel along with a Material Safety Data Sheet for each chemical. PI’s must submit their Chemical Inventories to EHS by November 1st of each year using the EHS Formatted Chemical Inventory Form. Please see the Chemical Inventory EHS Update for more information.

What do I NOT have to inventory for the chemical inventory?

Chemicals that are not considered hazardous (as per the Material Safety Data Sheet) do not have to be inventoried. Some classes of chemicals include: enzymes, amino acids, nucleic acids, DNA/RNA, proteins, some inorganic salts such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride.

Our inventory keeps changing over the year, what should we do?

The inventory is a yearly average of what is in the lab at any one time. If the quantity of a chemical is continuously fluctuating due to use, estimate on the higher end to ensure it is not underestimated.