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Performing a periodic inventory can have several benefits:
Plan appropriately. When doing an inventory, it is useful to have a floor plan where to mark the areas where chemicals or products are used or stored. Set a path to follow so that there are no missed products or locations.
Ideally, the inventory should be conducted by a team of two persons (one can write and the other can handle the products if needed). Consider the specifics of the area you will be inspecting and wear the personal protection equipment (PPE) required in that area.
Before the inventory begins:
When conducting the inventory:
During the inventory:
If you encounter a situation that needs to be addressed immediately, such as a spill, leak or the presence of ignition sources, follow the emergency notification protocol in your workplace.
Your information needs will be specific to your workplace, but in general you need to record:
*CAS stands for Chemical Abstracts Service, a service from the United States that assigns a unique number to each pure chemical. CAS numbers are used worldwide.
An essential aspect of the inventory is its maintenance over time. Products must be entered or quantities be updated as the products arrive or are used. If there are several persons in charge of purchasing products, implement a communication or updating system so that all products are inventoried in a centralized system. This system will ensure that those in charge of hazard information are informed about the presence of the product. If the inventory database is digital and accessible to all workers, it can even be used to link directly to digital SDS files for easy reference.
New products may need to be evaluated for safety and environmental impacts before final approval or rejection. Obsolete or rejected products may still be present in the workplace pending safe disposal. The inventory form can be used to record a product’s current status (under review, approved, rejected, obsolete, waste, etc.) and flag it for further action.
Determine the level of detail needed for your workplace. Customize this form accordingly.
Chemical or Product Inventory Form - Example | |||||||
Inventory Date (MM/DD/YYYY) and Time (start – end): | |||||||
Location or Building Name: | |||||||
Inventory completed by: | |||||||
Chemical or Product Name and | CAS # |
| Use / Process | Storage Location | SDS | Status | Other Comments |
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(Adapted From: Implementing a Chemical Safety Program, CCOHS