APS CAT Guide to Using the ANL Chemical Management System(August 30, 2000)
The Argonne Chemical Management System (CMS) is a database used to track the ownership and location of primary (original) containers1 of hazardous chemicals. It provides for a current listing of hazardous chemicals to which individuals working at Argonne might be exposed and it provides for automated generation of reports required by the EPA and OSHA. Finally, each inventory entry is linked to the MSDS for the product.
APS CATs should use the Chemical Management System (CMS) as described below:
|Container Description||Barcode & CMS Record Creation Required?||Comments|
|Any container received with an Argonne barcode.||Yes, label already present.||The corresponding CMS record must be updated when the container is permanently moved to a new location, when ownership changes, or when the container is emptied and discarded.|
|Any container holding analytical samples.||No.||As part of the Experiment Safety Approval process, Principal Investigators must provide CATs with available information characterizing the hazards posed by their samples, plus MSDSs if available.|
|Any container at ANL for seven (7) days or less.||No.||As part of the Experiment Safety Approval process, Principal Investigators must provide CATs with available information characterizing the hazards posed by their samples, plus MSDSs if available.|
|Containers holding up to 30 mL or 30 grams of chemical reagents brought to the APS by off-site researchers.||No.||As
part of the Experiment Safety Approval process, Principal Investigators
must provide CATs with available information characterizing the hazards
posed by their samples, plus MSDSs if available.
Chemicals must be handled in conformance with the Chemical Hygiene Plan for the Sector.
|Containers holding greater than 30 mL or 30 grams of chemical reagents brought to the APS by off-site researchers.||Yes.||As part of the Experiment Safety Approval process, Principal Investigators must provide CATs with available information characterizing the hazards posed by their samples, plus MSDSs if available.|
|AGA gas cylinders.||Yes; use the AGA barcode.||Cylinders purchased through AMOS or PARIS are entered into CMS automatically. Cylinders purchased by any other means must be entered into CMS by the CAT. Use the AGA barcode.|
|Lecture bottles and gas cylinders other than AGA gas cylinders.||Yes.|
|Beryllium as finished articles that will not be abraded, such as x-ray windows.||No.|
|Beryllium compounds, pure beryllium blocks, and alloys that may be machined or abraded.||Yes.||Work with or handling of beryllium must be carried out as described in Chapter 4-6 of the ANL ES&H Manual.|
|Radioactive sealed sources.||No.||Sealed sources are required to be recorded in a separate APS-CAT Sealed Source Inventory Database.|
|Containers holding non-bulk quantities of consumer products (e.g., window cleaner, household scouring powder) used in the workplace in the same manner as normal consumer use, and whose use results in duration and frequency of exposure that is not greater than the occasional exposures experienced by consumers.||No.|
|Containers holding office products (e.g., correction fluid, copier toner)||No.|
|Dewars containing cryogens.||No.|
|Secondary containers of chemicals.||No.||Chemicals may not be transferred to secondary containers to avoid barcoding.|
1. Secondary containers, such as wash bottles and other convenient dispensers, need not be tracked using the CMS; however, secondary containers may be subject to labeling requirements.
Minimally Required Activities
When a qualifying container comes under the control of the CAT or is brought into the space the CAT manages, the CAT must ensure that a barcode label is applied and that a record is created in CMS.
When a CAT accepts custody of a qualifying, labeled container, the CAT must verify that the transfer of ownership has been properly characterized in the CMS.
When a CAT transfers custody of a qualifying, labeled container to another entity, the CAT must verify that the transfer of ownership has been properly characterized in the CMS.
When a labeled container is transferred from one location to another, the corresponding CMS record must be revised to reflect the change in location.
When a labeled container is emptied and before it is discarded, the corresponding CMS entry should be revised to reflect the change of status of the container. CATs who choose not to delete records as containers are emptied must reconcile their inventory and CMS records annually.
At least every three (3) years, the CAT must verify that its actual inventory corresponds to records in CMS.
Applying ANL Barcode Labels
To facilitate the use of a scanner, place barcode labels in a vertical position, near the chemical name where practical. Barcode labels should not be placed over chemical label information such as health and safety information.
If a container is too small to accommodate a barcode label, attach a tag to the container using string or wire and place the label on the tag.
If neither application of a barcode label nor attachment of a tag is feasible (due to the size or shape of the container or the storage location), place the barcode on a sheet of paper with the corresponding chemical name written on it or on a packing slip that contains the chemical name. Place the paper next to the storage location.
Identify "group items" such as analytical standard kits with a single barcode for the kit. Material safety data sheets typically refer to these items as one item.
Attach barcodes to drums in a manner similar to chemical bottles. If the barcode cannot be placed on the chemical label, place it above the label. Do not put barcode labels on the top of drums as they are too susceptible to damage by chemical spillage and leakage.
The APS can arrange for CAT use of a notebook computer, barcode scanner, and required software to assist CATs with their initial creation of CTS records and application of barcode labeling. The same equipment may be used for inventory verification.
Reviewed: May 23, 2011