Overview
An accurate inventory of hazardous chemicals stored or used in the area is not available.
- Present
- If not obvious (posted next to door, with SDSs or lab manuals, etc.), ASK
- Accurate
- Some exemptions: non-hazardous chemicals, test strips, manufactured articles, consumer products, etc.
- Spot-check
- Chemical Identifier
This item comes from both NFPA 45 and the National Academy’s “Prudent Practices in the Laboratory”. It is essentially a list of hazardous chemicals in the laboratory. Non-hazardous chemicals, consumer products used in a consumer manner, manufactured articles, and chemically-impregnated test media (dip and read, colorimetric test strips, like pH paper) do not need to be on the inventory. With respect to laboratory inventories, we are concerned with two things: Presence and Accuracy. At a minimum, the inventory must contain the name of each chemical or product name (whichever is used on the SDS - in some cases it may be a proper chemical name, in other cases it may be a trade name). The inventory may contain additional information, but this is not required. Examples include, supplier, NFPA hazard ratings, quantity, storage location, etc.
With respect to PRESENCE: Look for an inventory.
- Some labs will post it on or near the door; some will keep it in the lab with their SDSs or safety manuals; some will keep it electronically. If you don’t see an inventory, ask a lab occupant. You may have to ask more than one lab worker. If you’re unable to locate an inventory, then it is cited under this checklist item.
- The inventory must also be accurate, so it is important to spot check the inventory for accuracy. If it is a small inventory, verify most of it. If the inventory is large, check about 10% of it. Check to see if chemicals that you observe in the laboratory are on the inventory.
- Look to see that chemicals that are on the inventory are in the lab. If you note discrepancies, ask the lab occupant about the discrepancy and make note - perhaps there is a good reason, such as they are temporarily out of stock and the item has been or will soon be ordered.
Only cite this checklist item as it relates to “accuracy” if the inventory obviously should have been updated to add or remove items that are newly acquired or no longer used. Any date that you may see on an inventory is irrelevant- the points of evaluation are presence and accuracy.
You most likely will be able to complete a Hazard Assessment (HA) or re-assessment without looking at the chemical inventory and be confident that you found all hazard categories present, but it is a good idea to review the inventory to make sure you didn’t miss anything.