Berkeley Lab recently completed a comprehensive chemical inventory, which provided valuable insights into line processes, best practices, and the general utility of the Lab’s Chemical Management System (CMS). It also became apparent there is a cost of not correctly managing chemicals throughout their lifecycle.
A Chemical Lifecycle Management working group is reviewing the Lab’s chemical handling processes and recommending improvements. The first area to be addressed is the chemical purchasing process.
Chemical lifecycle management begins before placing a chemical order. The downstream consequences and costs associated with expired, unused, and unsafe chemicals are significant. Purchasing in more substantial quantities is not always a safe or economical choice when considering waste management costs. Anyone who uses chemicals can take steps now by following approved chemical purchasing procedures, including:
- Ordering in small volumes
- Ordering less toxic and more stable chemicals
- Placing orders through eBuy or ePro whenever possible
The Lab maintains a Restricted Items List to guide Lab workers through the legal and policy restrictions in place for purchasing specific categories of items. Following Lab policy, the requisition for some chemical purchases is routed to Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) for either notification or approval. Subject Matter Experts are available at EHS to provide support in identifying safer alternatives, managing time-sensitive chemicals, and conducting exposure assessments. If you have questions or need assistance, contact the EHS Division at chemsafety@lbl.gov.
Controlling purchases at the beginning of the chemical lifecycle will help to ensure a safe environment by creating less chemical waste, which is legally mandated, and assist the Lab in controlling costs and reducing risks.
