SciShield ChemTracker Coming Soon!
A University-wide chemical inventory management system.
The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to maintain a list of hazardous chemicals present in the workplace. A well-managed inventory is also a convenient means of determining whether a material is available, needs to be ordered, has expired or should be collected as waste.
Personnel responsible for areas where hazardous chemicals are stored are required to maintain a chemical inventory. Examples include but are not limited to: Principal Investigators who oversee a laboratory, supervisors who oversee shops, art studios or makerspaces, and managers of chemical storerooms.
To meet this need, UVA has selected and initiated implementation of ChemTracker, SciShield's chemical inventory management module, which includes automatic Safety Data Sheet (SDS) matching and other enhanced features designed to make inventory management more intuitive and user-friendly. We are currently in the early adopter phase and anticipate a full University implementation in early 2027. EHS will share updates with the UVA research community through email communications as the implementation progresses. For questions or interest in becoming an early adopter, email [email protected]
What needs to be included in a chemical inventory?
Include all hazardous chemicals (e.g., toxic, flammable, corrosive, reactive, carcinogenic, oxidizing), and chemical products. This includes most laboratory chemicals, all compressed and liquified gases, disinfectants, aerosol products, oils (motor oil, vacuum pump oil, gasoline), and lubricants.
Are there materials that are exempt from being inventoried?
Yes. Non-hazardous chemicals or chemical products are exempt from inventory requirements. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- sterile water
- saline solution
- non-hazardous buffers
- biological culture media
- peptides
- non-hazardous proteins
- dry milk, gelatin, vegetable oil, and otherwise edible products
Other exemptions include:
- Working solutions used within a few days.
- Retail products used and stored in amounts and frequencies typical to ordinary household use, such as:
- dish or handwashing soap
- office supplies
- printing supplies
How can I maintain my inventory?
More information will be available soon as ChemTracker implementation progresses. Historically, a variety of approaches to inventory requirements across schools, units, departments and investigators, have included use of Quartzy, Chematix™, word processing software, and spreadsheets. ChemTracker allows laboratories to import their existing inventory. For the most seamless transition, we encourage labs to migrate their existing inventory file into the ChemTracker Chemical Inventory template.
Check with your supervisor for a list of hazardous chemicals stored and used in your work area. Chemical materials which may be found at UVA are listed here.