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Chemical Inventory
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Overview
Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) is required to
maintain an inventory of all hazardous chemicals and report annually
on the types, quantities and locations where these chemicals are
being stored and used at the College. All locations which store
and/or use hazardous chemicals must maintain a complete and current
inventory for their area. On an annual basis, the chemical inventory
must be submitted to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). EHS will
compile all the chemical inventories for the College and submit the
annual WCMC chemical inventory reports to the appropriate Federal
and local government agencies as part of the Community Right-to-Know
Program. Information reported to external agencies is generalized by
building and does not contain any personal identifying information.
More detailed information is kept in the EHS Office and made
available during an incident requiring emergency response in an area
storing hazardous materials. In order to facilitate this process,
all chemical inventories must be completed electronically on the EHS-formatted
Chemical Inventory Form (MS Excel spreadsheet) and submitted
annually according to this procedure.
Applicability
This inventory is required of all areas (e.g.
laboratories, clinics, service areas, mechanical rooms, print shops)
that store and/or use hazardous chemicals (i.e. chemicals which
possess a physical or health hazard). Refer to the chemicals
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to determine if the chemical is
hazardous. Unless the manufacturer states the chemical is
non-hazardous, the chemical should be assumed to be a hazardous
chemical.
Definitions
Hazardous chemical means any chemical which has a
physical hazard or a health hazard.
Health hazard means a chemicals
which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive
toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins,
nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic
system, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous
membranes.
Physical hazard means a chemical for which there is
scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a
compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an
oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.
Responsibilities
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) obtains
current copies of all chemical inventories; prepares and submits
chemical inventories to appropriate government agencies; and
provides assistance and training on completing the chemical
inventory as needed.
Principal Investigators and
Directors ensure a
chemical inventory for their area(s) is maintained, including
updating as chemicals are added or removed from the area, and that
the inventory is submitted to EHS annually by the first week of
January using the EHS-supplied Excel Spreadsheet.
Procedure
The following procedure must be utilized to complete
the chemical inventory and submit it to EHS:
1. Obtain a copy of the EHS-formatted Chemical Inventory Form (MS Excel spreadsheet) from
the EHS website (http://www.med.cornell.edu/ehs/forms/ChemicalInventory.xls).
This is the only inventory form version and format which is
acceptable. Contact EHS if assistance is needed in using the form.
2. A separate Chemical Inventory Form must be created for each
unique Principal Investigator or Director. However, each Principal
Investigator or Director may enter chemicals from multiple
locations onto the same Chemical Inventory Form. Enter the following
information into the Chemical Inventory Form:
- PI / Director
Enter the name of the Principal Investigator for a laboratory or the
Director responsible for non-laboratory areas (e.g., clinics,
service areas, print shops).
- Department Enter the official
department name for the area(s).
- Division Enter the official
division name for the area(s).
- Inventory Date Enter the date the
inventory was last updated.
- Bldg Enter the official building
code where the chemicals are located.
- Room Enter the room number
where the chemicals are physically located. The room number should
be indicated on a placard adjacent to the entrance to the area.
- Full Chemical Name Write out the full chemical name of each
hazardous chemical. Abbreviations and chemical nomenclature are not
acceptable.
- Volume Enter the
estimated total volume or weight
(numerical value only) of the chemical located in the designated
room number. Do not enter the unit of measure in this field. Enter
the unit of measure in the UM field to the immediate right of the
Volume field.
- UM Enter the correlating unit of measure for the
total volume using the appropriate unit of measure abbreviation
indicated on the Chemical Inventory Form.
- Manufacturer (optional)
If desired, enter the Manufacturer of the chemical.
- Comments
(optional) Enter any additional information.
- MSDS Utilize this
annual submission of the chemical inventory to verify a Material
Safety Data Sheet is available for each hazardous chemical in the
area. The MSDS is created by the chemical manufacturer and should be
obtainable by contacting the manufacturer. Contact EHS if assistance
is required or visit the MSDS page at
http://www.med.cornell.edu/ehs/msds.htm.
3. Email the Chemical Inventory Form to
ehs@med.cornell.edu by
November 1st of each year.
4. Contact EHS with any questions on
completing and/or submitting the Chemical Inventory Form.
References
EPA - SARA Title III - Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act OSHA 1910.1200 - Hazard Communication
Standard OSHA 1910.1450 - Occupational Exposure to Hazardous
Chemicals in Laboratories Title 15, Chapter 41-05 of the Rules of
the City of New York
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