7 Resources That Will Make You Better at Chemical Management
Are you new to chemical management and want to learn the basics? Or are you already familiar with it, but want to improve your skills? Either way, managing chemicals in the workplace safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively can be a daunting task. While chemical management may be complicated, you don’t have to face these challenges alone. To help you hone your abilities, we’ve compiled 7 of the best free chemical management resources from around the web.
If you’re new to chemical management and want a comprehensive overview of the subject, the American Chemical Society’s Chemical Safety Manual for Small Businesses is a great place to start.
Don’t let the name fool you: While the guide is aimed at managers, administrators, and employees at small businesses, the advice can easily be applied to any workplace that makes or uses chemicals.
Inside, you’ll find information on nearly every aspect of chemical management, from facility management and design to waste disposal, safe work practices and training, and emergency response management.
For quick reference, look no further than the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. It’s a great source of industrial hygiene information for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals.
The pocket guide, which is designed to help you recognize and control occupational chemical hazards, contains key information and NIOSH recommendations on 677 chemicals found in the work environment.
3. COSHH e-tool
Maybe you’re looking for some practical, hands-on guidance? If that’s the case, you might want to explore the COSHH e-tool from Health and Safety Executive.
The COSHH e-tool, which was designed to meet the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (UK), is an interactive assessment tool that provides advice on controlling health risks from specific tasks involving chemicals.
The tool guides you through a set of simple questions and generates advice for common tasks like mixing, drying, and spraying.
Another source of information on chemical hazard controls is the NIOSH Engineering Controls Database.
The Engineering Controls Database is a searchable repository of current NIOSH information on engineering control technology. Many of the engineering controls in this database involve specific chemical exposures and hazards in the workplace.
Looking for “shop floor” level chemical information? If so, the International Chemical Safety Cards are a great resource.
They summarize essential health and safety information in a clear, easy-to-understand way. The cards are designed for use by workers and occupational health and safety professionals. Better yet, they are available in over a dozen different languages.
Managing the risks associated with storing and using hazardous chemicals is no small task. This step-by-step guide, designed for maintenance and engineering managers and front-line technicians, walks you through the steps of creating an effective hazardous materials management program including inventory, procurement, storage, handling, and disposal.
You may already be familiar with chemical management, and have implemented a chemical management program at your facility. But you want to take things a step further by reducing chemical waste and disposal costs.
If that’s the case, you might be interested in the American Chemical Society’s Guide, Less is Better. The guide offers practical suggestions around purchasing and inventory control, reuse and substitution, waste treatment, and more. While this resource was originally intended for laboratories, the concepts can easily be applied to other industries.
Lisam’s Chemical Management can help!