Important highlights from each database are listed below.

CHEMINFO

Comprehensive, summarized occupational health and safety information on chemicals. Produced by CCOHS occupational health and safety specialists, each chemical profile uses non-technical language to describe potential workplace hazards and control measures.

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: information on potential chemical workplace hazards and control measures in a practical, easy-to-read, and referened format.

Highlights

• Detailed profiles of more than 1,700 workplace chemicals, including health, fire and reactivity hazards and safe work practices
• Includes recommendations on topics such as handling and storage, personal protective equipment, accidental release, first aid, and hazard classifications for WHMIS, OSHA and the European Union
• Essential compliance tool for international chemical regulatory and right-to-know requirements

CHEMINFO Sample Record

CESARS

The CESARS database (Chemical Evaluation Search and Retrieval System) is developed and provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and contains profiles on chemicals of environmental concern.

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: comprehensive environmental and health information on chemicals

Highlights

• Over 850 information profiles on chemicals of environmental concern, on up to 23 topic areas ranging from chemical properties to toxicity to environmental transport and fate
• Authoritative reviews of health related topics such as acute and chronic toxicity to animals and humans, including carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and reproductive effects
• Data from a wide range of toxicological and environmental investigations, including toxicity to aquatic species, plants, transformation processes, bioaccumulation, bioconcentration and transport
• Includes complete references to the original reports

 

CESARS Sample Record CESARS Supplement

CHRIS

The Chemical Hazards Response Information System (CHRIS) database is a comprehensive source of emergency response information for those involved in the transport of hazardous materials.

Data Source: United States Coast Guard

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: emergency response information for hazardous materials

Highlights:

• Useful for many different types of emergency situations, including spills
• Each of the 1300 hazardous material records includes synonyms, CAS numbers, hazard labels, and observable characteristics
• Identifies emergency actions, and specific fire and water pollution response
• Provides potential symptoms of exposure, and recommendations for personal protective equipment and first aid
• Extensive lists of hazard ratings and classifications, including hazardous materials transport, water shipment and water pollution

 

CHRIS Sample Record CHRIS Supplement

DSL/NDSL (Domestic/Non-Domestic Substance List)

This CCOHS database provides convenient access to the Domestic Substances List (DSL) and the Non-Domestic Substances List (NDSL) created in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) by Environment Canada. Substances that are not on the DSL may require notification and assessment before they can be manufactured or imported into Canada. Substances on the NDSL have different notification requirements.

Language(s): English, French (LI/EDS)

Ideal if: you are a chemical manufacturer, supplier or importer that needs to submit information under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), or if you are a government regulator, enforcer or regulatory compliance specialist

Highlights:

• detailed identification information for more than 74,000 substances, including substance definitions for chemicals of unknown or variable composition or biological materials (uvcb), synonyms and record type (domestic or non-domestic; confidential or non-confidential)
• canada gazette dates and registration information
• Updated as new data becomes available from Environment Canada

 

DSL/NDSL Sample Record

Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

The Hazardous Substances Data Bank® (HSDB) contains comprehensive data profiles compiled from an extensive range of authoritative sources on over 5,000 potentially toxic chemical substances. Each chemical record contains up to 150 data fields arranged into 10 broad subject categories. It is created and updated by specialists at the US National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Data Source: US National Library of Medicine

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: comprehensive data profiles on potentially toxic chemical substances

Highlights:

• Hard-to-find chemical data on topics such as: environmental fate, exposures to humans, accident reports, medical treatment and surveillance, warning properties, analysis methods, cleanup and disposal procedures
• Wide range of standards, guidelines, and regulatory data for environmental, workplace, transport and other jurisdictions
• Excerpts from referenced data sources detailing specific health hazards and toxic effects
• Updated regularly with scientifically peer-reviewed information

 

HSDB Sample Record

International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC)

International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC) provide summarized, clear-language, essential health and safety information on chemical substances intended to be used at the "shop floor" level by workers, as well as by other staff involved with health and safety in factories, agriculture, construction and other places of work. ICSCs are developed cooperatively by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) and the Commission of the European Union (EC). The safety cards are prepared by cooperating scientific institutions and are then peer-reviewed by a committee consisting of internationally-recognized experts who take into account advice given by manufacturers, workers' representatives and poison centres. Note: ICSCs are included free as a part of CHEMpendium's online collection only.

Data Source: IPCS INCHEM

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: Easy to read summarized fact sheets containing physical, health and environmental hazards and control recommendations for workplace chemicals.

Highlights

• More than 1650 safety cards each containing physical properties, fire, explosion, short and long-term health hazard data and environmental hazards
• Provides prevention, first aid, fire fighting, storage and disposal recommendations, as well as EU and UN classifications and NFPA codes
• GHS classifications provided for hundreds of new and updated safety cards, including the corresponding hazard statements, signal words and symbols.

Sample record

Compiler's Guide: This Guide provides the collection of standard phrases and criteria for their use.

New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets (NJ HSFS)

This database provides users with easy to read and summarized fact sheets, containing hazard data and safe working procedures for about 1,700 important hazardous substances found in workplaces and the environment (eg. lead, mercury, DDT).

Data Source: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Right-to-Know Program

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: easy to read and summarized fact sheets, containing hazard data and safe working procedures for chemicals

Highlights

• Each hazardous chemical fact sheet consists of a summary of potential hazards, workplace exposure limits, workplace control measures, human health effects (short- and long-term), medical testing recommendations, spill and emergency response, and more
• Useful glossary of terms, plus basic questions and answers on each fact sheet

 

Description of HSFS (New Format) Description of HSFS New Jersey HSFS Sample Record New Jersey HSFS - Definitions
New Jersey HSFS - Emergency Information

NIOSH Pocket Guide

Data Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH)

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: a practical, convenient source of information for recognizing and controlling workplace chemical hazards

Highlights:

• Concise industrial hygiene data for more than 670 critical workplace chemicals
• Lists workplace exposure limits, signs and symptoms of exposure, first aid treatment, measurement methods, chemical and physical properties, incompatibilities, and reactivities
• Recommends respirator selections and protective measures
• Fully expands codes and abbreviations, and includes supplemental appendix information for each hazardous substance
• Updated with information not yet available in the print version

 

NPG Supplement
NIOSH Pocket Guide Sample Record

Transport TDG

Transport TDG content is based directly on the tabulated information in the Canadian transportation regulations. An effective regulatory status date is provided. The database content and structure is updated to reflect changes in the regulations.

Data Source: Canadian Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations, Transport Canada

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: regulatory and other information related to the transportation of dangerous goods in Canada

Highlights:

• Transport data for 2,500 dangerous goods, including hazard identification data, shipping information, and special provisions
• North American Emergency Response Guidelines with potential health, fire or explosion
• Public safety and first aid recommendations
• Immediate actions for fire, spill and leak situations
• Effective regulatory status dates
• Updated to reflect changes in the regulations

 

Transport (TDG) Sample Record

Transport 49CFR

The Transport of Hazardous Materials (Transport 49CFR) database contains regulatory and other information related to the transportation of hazardous materials in the United States of America.

Data Source: Title 49 Transportation Regulations table, US Department of Transportation

Language(s): English

Ideal if you need: regulatory and other information related to the transportation of hazardous materials in the United States

Highlights

• Transport data for 3,000 regulated materials, including hazard classes, labels and special provisions for transport
• North American Emergency Response Guidelines with potential health, fire or explosion
• Public safety and first aid recommendations
• Immediate actions for fire, spill and leak situations
• Marine pollutants and other hazardous substances regulated under CERCLA as reportable quantities
• Effective regulatory status dates
• Updated to reflect changes in the regulations

 

Transport 49CFR Sample Record